DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his latest assessment is of progress in military operations in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: We continue to work with the Afghan national security forces and ISAF partners to bring security to the Afghan people. The increasing ability of Afghan security forces has been shown recently in their effective planning, leadership and execution of Operation Moshtarak, which is successfully extending the authority and influence of the Afghan Government in central Helmand Province.

Afghanistan

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his most recent assessment is of the role of UK armed forces in the overall military strategy in Afghanistan.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Macclesfield.

Afghanistan

Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the timetable is for transition of lead security responsibility to the Afghan government for  (a) each district and  (b) the nation as a whole.

Bob Ainsworth: The Afghan Government wants the Afghan national security forces (ANSF) to take the lead and conduct the majority of operations within three years, and to take responsibility for physical security within five years. At the London conference, the international community agreed to support this goal by continuing to improve the capability and effectiveness of the ANSF.
	We hope that a number of provinces will transition to ANSF lead by late 2010 or early 2011, with ISAF moving to a supporting role. However, the rate of transition will depend upon conditions on the ground, and the judgment of military commanders and the Afghan Government.

RAF Church Fenton

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his plans are for the future of RAF Church Fenton and its parent base RAF Linton-on-Ouse; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: RAF Church Fenton and its parent base RAF Linton-on-Ouse currently provide UK military flying training. The future roles of these stations are under review as part of the UK military flying training system programme which will deliver the future flying training needs of the armed forces. No decisions have been taken yet on the involvement of individual sites that are under review as part of the programme.

Personnel: Mental Illnesses

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements his Department has put in place to help military service personnel with mental illnesses linked to combat experience.

Kevan Jones: Defence Medical Services deploy uniformed mental health staff on major operations to provide assessment and care to personnel in theatre. In the UK, community-based mental health care is available at 15 MOD-run regional departments of community mental health (plus centres overseas), while in-patient care, when necessary, is provided in specialist NHS mental health facilities.

Defence Storage and Distribution Agency

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency no longer has agency status.

Quentin Davies: The Defence Storage and Distribution Agency (DSDA) still has agency status. The operational efficiency programme made a number of recommendations which allow removal of agency status from DSDA and my Department is therefore currently consulting with the trade unions on its removal. Once this is complete, I will make a final decision which will be announced to Parliament in the usual manner.

Accommodation: Repairs

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was charged to occupants of 
	(1)  Modern Housing Solutions accommodation for repair of damage caused by them to the accommodation in each of the last 12 months;
	(2)  family accommodation owned by Amec Turner for repair of damage caused by them to the accommodation in each of the last five years.

Kevan Jones: Modern Housing Solutions and Turner Estates Solutions are the prime contractors for the repair and maintenance of service family accommodation (SFA) in Great Britain. Neither company own any SFA properties.
	However, charges for "barrack damage" are raised in cases where occupants vacate SFA below the required move-out standard, and are to cover the costs of remedial works required. The MOD manages over 20,000 moves in and out of SFA in the UK each year. Charges are not raised for normal wear and tear and any charges for the replacement of lifed items such as carpets will take into account the remaining life of the item. Housing officers visit every SFA property prior to move-out in order to advise occupants what work may be required to clean properties to the required standard, and to allow occupants to raise any concerns they may have. Figures are only available for the UK as a whole. For data prior to 2009, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 14 September 2009,  Official Report, column 2124W. The following table shows data that are available for 2009.
	
		
			   Amount charged (£) 
			 January 137,245 
			 February 85,946 
			 March 54,124 
			 April 64,942 
			 May 69,870 
			 June 114,772 
			 July 99,756 
			 August 64,903 
			 September 111,748 
			 October 102,023 
			 November 85,139 
			 December 54,006

Afghanistan and Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel have served in  (a) Afghanistan since 2001 and  (b) Operation Telic from 2003-09.

Bob Ainsworth: The following table shows the numbers of personnel endorsed for Afghanistan since 2001 and Operation Telic since 2003.
	
		
			   Iraq  Afghanistan 
			 2001 0 4,300 (Op Veritas-includes personnel that supported operations in Afghanistan but were not based in the country) 
			
			 2002 0 2,100 (early 2002) 
			   3,500 (spring 2002) 
			   300 (summer 2002) 
			
			 2003 46,000 (March) 300 (in ISAF) 
			  18,000 (end May) plus 100 (at Mazar-e-Sharif) 
			
			 2004 8,600 (end May) 500 (in ISAF) (April 2004) 
			   900 (in ISAF and Harrier GR7 deployment) (late 2004) 
			
			 2005 8,500 (end November) 1,000 
			
			 2006 7,200 (end May) 5,400 (summer 2006) 
			   6,200 (autumn 2006) 
			   6,300 (late autumn 2006) 
			
			 2007 5,500 (end September) 6,300 (April) 
			   7,800 (late 2007) 
			
			 2008 4,100 8,100 (June) 
			
			 2009 4,100 (end May) 9,000 (April) 
			  150 (November)(1) 9,500 (October) 
			  
			 (1) This includes the UK's contribution to the NATO Training Mission-Iraq. 
		
	
	The data included in this response have been rounded. The Afghanistan figures represent the endorsed troop levels at the given time.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the security threat posed by the Taliban in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 11 January 2010
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister of State for the Armed Forces (Bill Rammell) to the hon. Member for Reigate (Mr. Blunt) on 11 January 2010,  Official Report, column 740W.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many troops were stationed in Afghanistan in each year between 2006 and 2009.

Bob Ainsworth: The following table shows the number of personnel endorsed for Afghanistan between 2006 and 2009.
	
		
			  Afghanistan 
			Number 
			 2006 Summer 5,400 
			  Autumn 6,200 
			  Late autumn 6,300 
			 2007 April 6,300 
			  Late 2007 7,800 
			 2008 June 8,100 
			 2009 April 9,000 
			  October 9,500 
		
	
	The Afghanistan figures represent the endorsed troop levels at the given time.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the effect was on the operation of the Afghan air bridge of recent severe weather conditions in the UK.

Bill Rammell: Delivery of the strategic airbridge was challenging but successful during the period of severe weather in January 2010. Some aircraft were diverted from RAF Brize Norton or pre-positioned at East Midlands airport.
	In spite of the closure of RAF Brize Norton from late on 5 January 2010 until 8 January 2010, the utilisation of additional resources and the inherent flexibility in airbridge passenger tasking ensured that outbound passengers were re-allocated to the next available aircraft departing from either Brize Norton or East Midlands airport. The airbridge continued through the period of severe weather with minimal overall disruption.

Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to monitor the effectiveness of the changes to the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme announced on 10 February 2010.

Kevan Jones: The Government are committed to implementing all of the recommendations put forward by Lord Boyce in his Review of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. A report on progress will be made in 12 months time to the Central Advisory Committee on Pensions and Compensation, a statutory advisory body, whose members include representatives of Service and ex-service organisations as well as military personnel. As recommended in the Report this same body will monitor progress on implementation of the Review's recommendations and will also be the route through which any further reviews of aspects of the Scheme which might be required are conducted.

Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what means lifetime earnings lost by reservists as a result of injuries sustained in service be  (a) calculated and  (b) accounted for in the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme following implementation of the changes to the Scheme announced on 10 February 2010.

Kevan Jones: A Reservist's Guaranteed Income Payment is calculated, in the same way as a Regular's, using age and salary at time of discharge and reflecting the severity of the injury. The salary for Reservists is calculated using a military salary of equivalent rank as a Regular plus any Reservist pay supplements that an individual earns to compensate those whose gross civilian salary is higher than their gross Service pay. In line with the Review Recommendations the Guaranteed Income Payment calculation will be amended to reflect, for the most seriously injured, the average number of promotions they are no longer able to receive. This will apply to Reservists and Regulars alike.

Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the compensation review for people injured since April 2005 announced on 10 February 2010 to be completed.

Kevan Jones: The Government have accepted all of the recommendations put forward by Lord Boyce in his Review of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and these will be implemented as quickly as possible. Some of the changes will be completed by the summer, while those which require more time to translate into detailed legislation are expected to be complete in about 12 months time.

Armed Forces: Absent Voting

Robert Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues on arrangements to ensure that service personnel on active duty can vote at the next general election.

Kevan Jones: I am working closely with the Minister of State at the Ministry of Justice, the right hon. Member for North Swindon (Mr. Wills), and the Electoral Commission regarding this important matter. The Ministry of Justice have set up a working party of officials and representatives of service families to look at long-term solutions. We are committed to ensuring, where we can, that all service personnel and their families who are eligible are registered to vote and can do so.
	The proxy vote system is available to everybody and this is the most reliable means of voting for those for whom operational demands or their location would make the completion and return of postal votes difficult. None the less, we are striving to ensure that our service men and women, particularly those in Afghanistan are registered and able to vote in the forthcoming election.

Armed Forces: Aviation

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) flights and  (b) passengers have been delayed at (i) Brize Norton, (ii) Kandahar and (iii) Akrotiri for more than (A) 24, (B) 48 and (C) 72 hours in the last six months; what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Afghan Air Bridge; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Data are not recorded in the format requested as any flight that does not depart within 24 hours is replaced by a standby reserve flight and consequently the original tasking is no longer required. The required number of weekly airbridge trips has always been achieved in the time period.
	There have been 14 occasions (9 per cent. of flights) since 1 July 2009 when a scheduled TriStar from Brize Norton has needed to be replaced by a reserve flight, and passengers have had to wait until at least the next day to travel. This also impacts on the return flight from Kandahar. A fallback flight has run on 19 occasions in the same period to account both for these cancelled flights and for the differing capacity between KC1 TriStars that carry 115 passengers, and C2 TriStars that can carry 190, which are normally scheduled. As a result, there have been a further five occasions when passengers will have had to wait until at least the next day to travel.
	As with any aircraft, there are occasions when for technical reasons or bad weather flights are delayed; there are also operational reasons, such as casualty evacuation, when priorities may be changed causing delay to other passengers either on departure for Kandahar or returning to the UK. However, these delays have not compromised the overall performance of the Afghan Air Bridge, which is kept under constant review.

Armed Forces: Derbyshire

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department has taken to provide assistance to soldier normally resident in Derbyshire following active service in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Kevan Jones: My Department has taken many steps in recent years to improve the support available to all service personnel on their return from operations. These include improvements to medical support, welfare and financial packages.
	The hon. Member will be aware of the Defence Secretary's recent statement on 10 February 2010,  Official Report, column 926, to the House regarding improvements to the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. He will also be aware of my recent announcement on the Army Recovery Capability, which is an integrated and coherent programme to help injured and sick personnel return to work or prepare for civilian life.
	In terms of mental health, we continue to have a package of measures to assist with the early intervention of mental health problems. These include the use of Trauma Risk Management (TRiM), which is a model of peer group mentoring and support. We also provide out-patient and in extreme cases in-patient care to ensure any mental health needs are managed as early as possible.
	There are no specific programmes of assistance for service personnel from Derbyshire, but a coherent package for all Service Leavers and Veterans regardless of location.

Armed Forces: Discharges

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers subject to manning control are  (a) awaiting discharge and  (b) have been discharged since 2007.

Bill Rammell: No soldiers have been discharged under Manning Control Points since 2002, and no soldiers are awaiting discharge.

Armed Forces: Discharges

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers have been subject to discharge after failing a compulsory drugs test in each of the last two years; and what the class of drug was in each such case.

Bill Rammell: The Army does not tolerate drug abuse within its ranks, as it is incompatible with military service and reduces operational effectiveness.
	Positive results in the Army Compulsory Drug Testing over the last three years average around 0.8 per cent, which is much less than in similar civilian work place drug testing programmes in the UK.
	The number of soldiers the British Army discharged after failing compulsory drugs tests, in each of the last two calendar years is as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2008 580 
			 2009 (1)508 
			 (1 )As at 30 November 2009 
		
	
	Information on the class of drug in each case of discharge is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, I can provide a breakdown of the types of drugs that have been detected by compulsory drug testing, by year for the British Army for the requested period:
	
		
			  Ser  Drug Type  2008  2009 
			 1 Heroin 1 1 
			 2 Cocaine 427 231 
			 3 Ecstasy 32 4 
			 4 Cannabis 171 165 
			 5 Amphetamine 4 8 
			 6 Benzodiazepine 15 9 
			 7 Ketamine 1 11 
			 8 Total 651 429 
		
	
	The figures for 2009 are as at 30 November 2009.
	It should be noted that soldiers are not necessarily discharged in the year in which they fail a compulsory drugs test. It can take up to five months to process a discharge if the soldier wishes to challenge the decision. A soldier might also return multiple positive tests in one period. This may account for the apparent disparity between the totals of discharges and drugs detected.

Armed Forces: Expenses

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by members of the armed forces with a rank of Brigadier or equivalent and above in each of the last 12 months.

Kevan Jones: The following table provides information on expenditure reimbursed through the Joint Personnel Administration expenses system for those officers holding the rank of Brigadier and equivalent and above.
	
		
			  2009  £ 
			 January 67,392.31 
			 February 81,780.41 
			 March 114,559.39 
			 April 76,809.24 
			 May 120,100.37 
			 June 100,542.10 
			 July 97,569.42 
			 August 51,536.52 
			 September 77,002.27 
			 October 96,296.42 
			 November 104,682.84 
			 December 75,724.20 
			 Total 1,064,095.49 
		
	
	The figures provided reflect the month in which payment has been made. Although all claims for reimbursement will be made as soon as practical after the activity, it is possible that some claims will be listed against the month following an activity or even later.
	The majority of reimbursed expenses relate to subsistence allowance and motor mileage allowance. In order to reduce expenditure greater use is being made of video and telephone conferencing. When travel is necessary, all personnel are strongly encouraged to maximise the value of their time away by incorporating several meetings, thus avoiding the need to travel to the same location on separate occasions. If travelling by road, all practical measures are to be taken to allow the sharing of transport. Furthermore, when arranging meetings, due consideration is to be made to holding the meeting at a time that will allow attendees to return to their home units and avoid the need to stay overnight.

Armed Forces: Foreigners

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 24 November 2009,  Official Report, column 52W, on armed forces: recruitment, how many members of the armed forces there are from each other Commonwealth country.

Kevan Jones: The number of personnel joining the UK armed forces from Commonwealth countries is given in the following table. There is a discontinuity between the statistics for 2006-07 and other years presented in the table due to the introduction of the Joint Personnel Administration System and direct comparisons should not be made.
	
		
			  Nationality  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Total non-UK Commonwealth 680 1,220 1,460 
			 Australian (1)- 10 10 
			 Bahamian (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 Bangladeshi (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 Barbadian (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 Belizean (1)- (1)- 30 
			 Bermudan (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 Botswanan (1)- 10 20 
			 Cameroonian 10 20 20 
			 Canadian 10 (1)- (1)- 
			 Fijian 20 230 170 
			 Seychellois (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 Sri Lankan (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 Dominican 10 10 (1)- 
			 Gambian 30 80 80 
			 Ghanaian 160 220 180 
			 Grenadian 10 20 90 
			 Guyanese (1)- (1)- 10 
			 Indian 10 40 30 
			 Jamaican 20 30 40 
			 Kenyan 30 40 60 
			 Lesotho (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 Malawian 20 60 60 
			 Malaysian (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 Maltese (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 Mauritian 10 20 10 
			 Namibian (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 New Zealander (1)- 10 10 
			 Nigerian 20 60 50 
			 Pakistani (1)- (1)- 10 
			 St. Lucian 20 20 60 
			 Sierra Leonean (1)- 10 10 
			 Singaporean (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 South African 170 160 170 
			 Swazi 10 (1)- (1)- 
			 Tanzanian (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 Tongan (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 Trinidadian 10 10 20 
			 Ugandan 20 20 20 
			 Vincentian 10 40 190 
			 Zambian 10 10 20 
			 Zimbabwean 60 50 60 
			 (1 )Denotes zero or rounded to zero.  Notes:  1. Figures for 2006-07 exclude RAF data as the nationality of those joining the RAF can be identified only after 2006-07 with the introduction of the Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) System.  2. Army figures for 2006-07 are for an 11 month period between 1 April 2006 and 28 February 2007. Due to the introduction of JPA, Army intake by nationality is unavailable for March 2007.  3. The data provided are provisional and subject to review due to ongoing validation of data from the JPA system.  4. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. When rounding to the nearest 10, numbers ending in "5" have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.

Armed Forces: Health Services

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many armed forces personnel Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre Headley Court is able to accommodate at any one time;
	(2)  how many armed forces personnel undergoing a course of rehabilitation at Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Headley Court are accommodated outside Headley Court;
	(3)  how many armed forces personnel are awaiting appointments at Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Headley Court.

Kevan Jones: The facilities at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) at Headley Court currently include 66 ward beds and 120 other beds that are available for patients who do not require full ward facilities.
	We keep the numbers of beds required at DMRC under regular review. I refer the hon. Member to my written ministerial statement on 10 February 2010,  Official Report, column 52WS, which states that we are working on plans to provide up to 30 extra ward beds later this year.
	No individuals undergoing a course of residential rehabilitation at Headley Court are housed elsewhere. As part of its services, DMRC also provides a range of out-patient treatment. Personnel attending for a routine out-patient appointment may be offered overnight accommodation in a local hotel if they are unable to travel to and from the unit in a day.
	Armed forces personnel requiring residential care or rehabilitation at DMRC are transferred there in accordance with their clinical need at a given date. No patients are awaiting admission because of any shortage in the availability of ward beds. Some personnel undertaking long-term rehabilitation programmes will spend periods of time at home with their families between concentrated periods of treatment at Headley Court. This practice is in accordance with recognised clinical procedures; our experience suggests that patients can often recover better and faster in this way rather than through continuing accommodation in the rehabilitation unit.

Armed Forces: Housing

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) longest,  (b) shortest and  (c) average period of time taken was to make repairs to forces accommodation after a call out in the last period for which figures are available.

Kevan Jones: holding answer 11 January 2010
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 6 July 2009,  Official Report, column 552W, to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox).
	Additional information is currently being collated and verified. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
	 Substantive answer from Kevan Jones to Willie Rennie:
	In my answers of 13 January (Official Report, column 995W) I undertook to write to you with details of the number of calls made to the Department's accommodation helplines and details of the longest, shortest and average periods of time taken to carry-out repairs to Service accommodation.
	The repair and maintenance of Service accommodation worldwide is carried out under many different arrangements, managed by different areas of the Department. Given this fact, the requested details for Single Living Accommodation worldwide and Service Family Accommodation (SFA) overseas are not held centrally and can only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	Repairs to SFA properties in the UK are carried out under the Housing Prime Contract (HPC) in England and Wales, the Regional Prime Contract (RPC) in Scotland and separate arrangements exist in Northern Ireland (NI). In all cases, occupants can report faults and request repairs via a freephone helpdesk.
	The HPC is being delivered by Modern Housing Solutions (MHS) who is responsible for maintaining some 45,000 properties. The MHS helpdesk received some 393,656 calls in 2009, of which some 226,889 resulted in work orders being raised. Although the total number of calls regarding SFA in Scotland and NI is not available, the RPC raised 15,424 work orders for Scottish SFA in 2009 and 11,148 were raised for NI SFA.
	The longest, shortest and average times taken to carry out repairs on UK SFA in 2009 are as follows:
	
		
			Repair time (in days) 
			Emergency repair  Urgent repair  Routine repair 
			 England and Wales SFA (HPC) Longest 12 22 39 
			  Shortest Less than 1 Less than 1 Less than 1 
			  Average Less than 1 4 8.5 
			 Scotland SFA (RPC) Longest 1 23 59 
			  Shortest Less than 1 1 1 
			  Average Less than 1 4 11 
			 Northern Ireland SFA Longest 3 43 60 
			  Shortest Less than 1 Less than 1 Less than 1 
			  Average 1 6 10.7 
		
	
	The MOD contracts set the response time for attending emergency repairs as three hours, repairs to remedy or make safe are to be completed within 24 hours and subsequent rectifications in line with urgent and routine timescales. Urgent jobs would include a partial loss of essential facilities such as heating or hot water, and are to be attended within seven working days. All other jobs are classed as routine, and are to be attended within 20 working days.
	From the way the data is held, it is not possible to identify the specific reasons why the longest repairs took the time they did to complete. In general, repairs can take longer based on a number of factors, including the complexity of the work, whether accommodation is occupied or the availability of parts and materials that are required to finalise repairs. In many cases the fault is made good at the first visit, but additional work is required to complete the repair.

Armed Forces: Housing

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 8 February 2010,  Official Report, column 654W, on housing, how much his Department spent on those properties in 2008-09.

Kevan Jones: It is not possible to separately identify maintenance and other housing costs for individual service family accommodation properties.
	Contribution in lieu of council tax is paid on these properties; however the individual cost per property cannot be readily identified.

Armed Forces: Housing

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received on standards of service accommodation for service personnel and their families.

Kevan Jones: I have recently received representations from the three armed forces family federations regarding the standards of service accommodation. I will be replying to them shortly, addressing the issues they raise.
	In addition, as the House is aware, I regularly respond to questions and correspondence from hon. Members and the public regarding the standard of accommodation.

Armed Forces: Housing

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) service family and  (b) single living properties designated as empty were subsequently removed from his Department's housing stock in Scotland in each of the last five years.

Kevan Jones: Those service family accommodation (SFA) properties in Scotland that are declared surplus to requirements will be held empty prior to being sold on the open market. To date, the following numbers of properties were sold in each of the last five financial years:
	
		
			  Financial year  Number of SFA sold 
			 2005-06 238 
			 2006-07 242 
			 2007-08 107 
			 2008-09 407 
			 2009-10 (1)34 
			 (1 )To date. 
		
	
	Single Living Accommodation (SLA) is normally located within the wire of a defence establishment and therefore can be sold only as part of a wider disposal. Although details are held of Scottish establishments sold in the last five years, the amount of SLA included could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Housing

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2010,  Official Report, column 810W, on armed forces: housing, who rented each of the 17 properties listed in the last 12 months.

Kevan Jones: In accordance with data protection principles and for security reasons, the Department does not disclose the details of service families living in service accommodation.

Armed Forces: Manpower

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many people have been recruited to the Royal Regiment of Scotland in each year since 2007;
	(2)  how many Commonwealth citizens have been recruited to the Royal Regiment of Scotland in each year since 2007.

Bill Rammell: Figures for entrants to the Regular Battalions of Royal Regiment of Scotland (RRS) as a whole are as follows:
	
		
			   Soldiers  Of which :  Commonwealth citizens  Officers 
			 2007-08 220 18 19 
			 2008-09 177 31 13 
			 2009-10 305 58 - 
		
	
	These figures reflect the numbers who have passed out of training into the RRS. They therefore exclude those who have rejoined the regiment and those who have transferred into it from other regiments.
	No Commonwealth citizens have passed into the RRS as officers during this period.

Armed Forces: Prisons

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times the Prison-in-Reach working group referred to on the service personnel and veterans website has met in the last 12 months.

Kevan Jones: The Veterans Prison-in-Reach working group meets on a quarterly basis. During the course of 2009, the Group met four times:
	19 March
	18 June
	24 September
	3 December.
	The Group will next meet on 11 March 2010.

Armed Forces: Reorganisation

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he plans to take to integrate the activities of the three services.

Bill Rammell: The recent Defence Green Paper recognised that joint operations have become the norm and the benefits arising from our ability to co-ordinate our activities across land, sea and air. The Green Paper suggested that the future Strategic Defence Review would look at how the joint approach could be taken further.

Armed Forces: Salt

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has a policy on stockpiling of salt and grit by the armed forces for adverse winter weather.

Kevan Jones: There is no specific policy on stockpiling of salt and grit by the armed forces for adverse winter weather.

Armed Forces: Cadets

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent on assistance to cadet forces in maintained schools in  (a) 1997,  (b) 2003 and  (c) the latest year for which figures are available.

Kevan Jones: The information is not held in the format requested. A recent study, however, estimated the overall annual public contribution to the cadet forces to be in the region of £140 million.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the winner of the contract to supply the further elements of the new electronic systems for the Warrior armoured vehicle upgrade programme.

Quentin Davies: The competition for Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme (WCSP), which includes an upgrade to the Warrior's electronic architecture, is ongoing. I intend to make an announcement shortly on the outcome of this competition once the assessment is complete and the investment decision approved.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce his plans for the future of the Future Rapid Effects System contract.

Quentin Davies: The Future Rapid Effect System programme has been recast from a single programme into a set of constituent projects, namely: the Specialist Vehicles; the Utility Vehicles; and the Manoeuvre Support Vehicles. The competition for the Specialist Vehicle project is ongoing and I intend to make an announcement on the outcome of this competition shortly, once the assessment is complete and the investment decision approved.

Baha Mousa Inquiry

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the monetary value is of awards of legal aid made in respect of the Baha Mousa inquiry; and whether an estimate has been made of the total value of such awards made during the course of that inquiry.

Bob Ainsworth: No awards of legal aid have been made to witnesses to the Baha Mousa Inquiry. However, all witnesses to the Inquiry are provided with free independent legal advice funded by the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The MOD has so far paid £3.7 million in legal costs for witnesses to the Inquiry. Future costs are uncertain and will depend on the number of witnesses the Inquiry decides to call before it concludes.

Batteries

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on  (a) rechargeable and  (b) single use batteries in the latest period for which figures are available.

Quentin Davies: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Blandford Camp

Robert Walter: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of Blandford Camp; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: It is currently anticipated that all communications training that currently takes place at Blandford Camp will move to RAF St. Athan as part of the implementation of the Defence Training Review by the end of 2015. We are pursuing alternative defence uses for Blandford Camp, but it is still too early to say what these might be.

Blaydon

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out, with statistical information related as directly as possible to Blaydon constituency, the effects on Blaydon of his Department's policies and actions since 2000.

Kevan Jones: The Ministry of Defence delivers security for the equal benefit of all the people of the UK, and the Overseas Territories, by defending them, including against terrorism; and acting as a force for good in the world by strengthening international peace and stability. Our continuing main effort of success in Afghanistan, preventing al-Qaeda from having a secure base from which to threaten us directly, keeps our country safe from the threat of terrorism.
	The Service Personnel Command Paper set out the Nation's Commitment to our Armed Forces, their families and veterans. This is a cross-Government initiative that is making real differences to the lives of our service personnel, veterans and their families and we are fully committed to upholding its key principles. The first annual report on the Service Personnel Command Paper was published on 19 November 2009. This report captured the progress made against the commitments of the Command Paper within the first year following its launch. It can be found at the following link:
	http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/Showcase/Providing ForOurPeople.htm
	The report sets out the substantial progress that has been made including:
	compensation for most serious injuries doubled;
	free further education for service leavers;
	retention of places on NHS waiting lists;
	Local Connection legislation amended in England and Wales, with a similar exercise currently being worked on in Scotland, to give service leavers credit for having lived and worked in an area when applying for social housing; and
	from April 2009, ex-service men and women who are seriously injured were given priority for specially adapted social homes.
	Defence Statistics are not available at constituency level, but regional statistics on service personnel numbers and defence employment can be found on the Defence Analytical Service and Advice website. Location of military personnel can be found in Tri Service Publication 10 at the following link:
	http://www.dasa.mod.uk/applications/newWeb/www/index. php?page=67&pubType=0&thiscontent=100&date=2010-01-28
	Regional defence employment can be found in Tables 1.11, 1.11a and 1.1 1b in UK Defence Statistics 2009 at the following link:
	http://www.dasa.mod.uk/modintranet/UKDS/UKDS2009/c1/table111b.html
	Additionally, although not defence-related, the Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at the following link:
	http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk

Chemical Weapons: Animals

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2010,  Official Report, columns 811-12W, on chemical weapons: animals, what quantities of each  (a) chemical and  (b) biological warfare agent are held in the UK; when such agents were manufactured; and what quantity of each agent is permitted to be held under the (i) Chemical Weapons Convention and (ii) Biological and Toxic Weapons Convention.

Quentin Davies: The UK is a State Party to both the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC). In accordance with these conventions, the UK maintains small quantities of chemical and biological warfare agents for research purposes, that are not prohibited under the conventions, to ensure that UK forces are adequately protected in the event that chemical or biological weapons are used against them.
	The CWC categorises chemical warfare agents under Schedule 1 chemicals. Under the CWC the UK is permitted to hold a maximum aggregate quantity of one tonne of Schedule 1 chemicals. There are no set limits on quantities of individual chemicals within this overall amount. The MOD holds some Schedule 1 chemicals within the one tonne limit. The Schedule 1 chemicals held by MOD are between approximately 10 and 40 years old, although on occasion small quantities (typically a few grammes) of Schedule 1 chemicals that are not normally held have been manufactured. These holdings are inspected by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (the OPCW), the international body set up to implement the CWC, to ensure compliance with the convention.
	The BTWC does not stipulate specific agents that are prohibited, nor does it specify quantities of agents that are permitted to be held. It permits the possession of biological agents and toxins of types and in quantities consistent with prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes, recognising that such agents exist in nature and are used for legitimate purposes, including the development of protective materials and medical countermeasures to biological agents and toxins.

Defence Equipment

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what  (a) military equipment and  (b) sensitive personal data was lost by his Department in the last 12 months.

Bill Rammell: The value of equipment lost or stolen, along with a range of other types of losses, is published in the summary of losses and special payments in the MOD's Annual Report and Accounts. Copies are available in the Library of the House and online at the following link:
	http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/AnnualReports/
	An explanation is provided for all losses which exceed £250,000. Loss information for equipments below £250,000 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	There has been one incident involving the loss of sensitive personal data in the past 12 months.

Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the monthly occupancy rate for  (a) ward and  (b) other beds has been at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Headley Court since January 2003.

Kevan Jones: Since May 2007, the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Headley Court, has had a total of 66 ward beds for the care of complex trauma and neurological in-patients. The majority of such patients are accommodated in these ward beds but some who have an appropriate level of function can alternatively be accommodated in 15 bed spaces in a separate building on site which are suitable for their clinical needs. These beds are part of a total of 120 hostel beds for patients whose condition (trauma or less serious musculoskeletal problem) allows them to be independent of nursing.
	Occupancy rates for ward beds and other beds from 2008 are as follows:
	
		
			   Ward beds  Other beds 
			   A verage patient numbers  Percentage occupancy  A verage patient numbers  Percentage occupancy 
			  2008-  - 
			 January 24 36 - - 
			 February 39 59 - - 
			 March 43 65 - - 
			 April 43 65 - - 
			 May 43 65 - - 
			 June 42 64 - - 
			 July 34 52 - - 
			 August 35 53 - - 
			 September 38 58 98 82 
			 October 38 58 120 100 
			 November 36 55 109 91 
			 December 25 38 23 19 
			  
			  2009 
			 January 27 41 86 72 
			 February 37 56 75 63 
			 March 40 61 104 87 
			 April 42 64 120 100 
			 May 43 65 68 57 
			 June 42 64 120 100 
			 July 43 65 104 87 
			 August 42 64 80 67 
			 September 50 76 92 77 
			 October 57 86 84 70 
			 November 56 85 101 84 
			 December 55 83 18 15 
			  
			  2010 
			 January 61 92 82 68 
		
	
	Data prior to January 2008 for ward beds, and prior to August 2008 for other beds, are not centrally held and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Non-ward bed occupancy is deliberately managed to achieve high percentages in order to speed the rehabilitation of less seriously injured personnel by maximising the size of groups undertaking rehabilitation together.
	While the statistics also indicate that ward bed occupancy has risen markedly in recent months, accommodation has been made available in ward beds for all operational casualties as and when they required it. Given this rise in patient numbers, we have a range of contingency plans, which include greater use of the 15 non-ward bed spaces mentioned, for those patients whose clinical condition allows, and greater use of our regional rehabilitation units for the treatment of less seriously injured personnel who might otherwise be accommodated at Headley Court. In addition, as I announced to the House on 10 February 2010,  Official Report, columns 926-36, we are now planning to create up to 30 more ward beds at Headley Court later this year.

Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many follow-up visits former in-patients at DMRC Headley Court had on average in 2009.

Kevan Jones: Between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2009, 722 patients attended out-patient appointments following either an in-patient stay or residential rehabilitation course at DMRC Headley Court. On average these patients had two follow-up visits during 2009, amounting to 1,683 out-patient appointments following their in-patient stay or residential rehabilitation course.

Defence Medical Services: Private Sector

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on employing private contractors in defence medical services in each of the last five years.

Kevan Jones: The vast majority of health care for service personnel is provided by the Defence Medical Services or the NHS. However, there will be times when it is necessary to employ private medical contractors, such as when a particular specialism is not readily available, or when it would be impractical to provide the service overseas using internal resources. For example, aspects of health care for personnel posted overseas to Germany and other smaller bases and detachments.
	In practice, such private sector health provision is funded by a number of individual budgets across the MOD, including at local unit level within the single services. This information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	However, we have a breakdown of costs from the MOD centre budget and British Forces Germany which indicates the sums involved for the health services they have contracted. This information is provided in the following tables.
	
		
			  MOD centre budget 
			  Financial year  Expenditure (£) 
			 2005-06 5,802,167 
			 2006-07 4,892,840 
			 2007-08 6,561,094 
			 2008-09 7,830,192 
			 2009-10 (to end January 2010) 3,744,016 
		
	
	These figures include specialist services where appropriate NHS provision is not available, including prosthetics and neurological services, and civilian locums for operational deployments. Prior to 2009-10, they included contract costs for the provision of in-patient mental health provision; this service is now provided through contract with NHS providers.
	
		
			  British Forces Germany 
			  Financial year  Expenditure (£) 
			 2005-06 43,790,000 
			 2006-07 43,720,000 
			 2007-08 45,450,000 
			 2008-09 51,283,000 
			 2009-10 (to April 2009) 39,016,000 
		
	
	These figures include secondary health care contracts with German hospitals; non-contracted extra-contractual costs for specialist care; primary care contract costs with SSAFA Forces Help and Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust (i.e. not all private contractor provided); non-contracted primary care costs; and costs related to Isolated Detachments in European Theatre.

Departmental Energy

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated  (a) amount and  (b) cost was of energy used in his Department and its agencies in each year since 1997; what proportion of the energy used was generated from renewable sources in each of those years; and if he will make a statement.

Kevan Jones: The MOD total energy consumption, spend and proportion of energy used generated from renewable sources is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Financial year  Consumption  (kWh)-w eather corrected  Cost (£ million)  Percentage generated from renewables 
			 2008-09 5,994,113,743 345 10 
			 2007-08 6,222,357,786 307 8 
			 2006-07 6,313,429,656 319 9 
			 2005-06 6,440,586,442 291 6 
			 2004-05 7,587,922,256 241 6 
			 2003-04 6,796,490,248 220 (1)- 
			 2002-03 6,645,837,501 223 (1)- 
			 2001-02 6,784,279,754 234 (1)- 
			 2000-01 5,403,345,255 240 (1)- 
			 1999-2000 2,439,054,321 231 (1)- 
			 (1) Data not held 
		
	
	Data on energy consumption prior to 1999-2000 are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Similarly data on the amount of energy generated from renewable sources prior to 2004-05 are not held.

Departmental Housing

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on  (a) permanent and  (b) temporary accommodation for civil servants in each of the last 12 months.

Kevan Jones: I will write to the hon. Member when I have obtained the information, and will place a copy in the Library of the House.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how much the Director General Land Warfare has spent on entertainment in each of the last 12 months;
	(2)  how much the Director General Land Warfare spent on  (a) car hire,  (b) accommodation,  (c) hotels and  (d) air fares in each of the last 12 months.

Bill Rammell: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave him on 10 February 2010,  Official Report, columns 968-70W, on Departmental Visits Abroad, Armed Forces: Housing and Armed Forces: Official Cars.
	Director General Land Warfare has responsibility for staff located in several overseas locations where the British Army regularly conduct training exercises, including Canada, Kenya, and Brunei. A certain amount of overseas travel is therefore an essential part of the job. When travelling overseas, the Director General Land Warfare stays in local service facilities rather than hotels whenever possible.
	Director General Land Warfare has claimed the following expenses in the last 12 months:
	
		
			   Entertainment  Flights  Accommodation/hotels  Car hire 
			 February 2009 0 8,260 0 0 
			 March 2009 40 0 0 0 
			 April 2009 0 430 0 0 
			 May 2009 0 4,960 0 460 
			 June 2009 290 2,130 330 0 
			 July 2009 50 0 0 0 
			 August 2009 0 310 0 0 
			 September 2009 320 300 0 0 
			 October 2009 0 2,210 0 0 
			 November 2009 0 30 0 0 
			 December 2009 0 100 0 0 
			 January 2010 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 700 18,730 330 460 
		
	
	All claims submitted by Director General Land Warfare in the last 12 months have been in accordance with relevant MOD policy, rules and guidance.

Departmental Property

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was received by his Department from sales of property in Scotland in 2009.

Kevan Jones: The value of receipts from sales of property in Scotland for the last auditable period of 2008-09 was £24.84 million. The list of potential sales for the period 2009-10 is held in the House of Commons Library. This covers all property sales in the period including Service accommodation.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date his predecessor was first informed of the determination by HM Treasury in autumn 2003 that his Department had exceeded its budget in the previous 15 months in respect of the flexibility permitted by resource account budgeting; what estimate was made of the size of that overspend; what discussions he had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on that matter; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: Following the 2002 spending review, a technical issue arose regarding flexibility between the MOD's core cash and non-cash expenditure plans.
	HM Treasury and MOD officials identified the issue in the preparation of Main Estimates for 2003-04. My predecessor was first informed in April 2003. Discussions between MOD and HM Treasury officials and Ministers led to agreement on a way ahead in late 2003.

Departmental Training

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2010,  Official Report, column 813W, on departmental training, what the cost was of each media and communications training session.

Kevan Jones: The training sessions were conducted by Ministry of Defence personnel based at the Defence Media and Operations Centre. The only additional cost to the Department was their travel costs into London which were approximately £30 per session.

European Defence Agency

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 25 November 2009,  Official Report, column 153W, on European Defence Agency, with which Capability Development Plan programmes the UK is involved, what the monetary value of each such programme is; and what the nature is of the UK's involvement.

Quentin Davies: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 28 January 2010,  Official Report, column 1017W, to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox)

Ex-servicemen

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with the Royal British Legion on support services for former service personnel.

Kevan Jones: I meet regularly with representatives of the Royal British Legion. Most recently, these meetings have concentrated on, among other things, Royal British Legion's involvement as a member of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme Review's Independent Scrutiny Group; the launch of the Army Recovery Capability; and the launch of the Welfare Pathway initiative.
	This demonstrates that the Royal British Legion remains a key partner in the Government's work to ensure that former service personnel receive the services, benefits and respect they deserve. I would like to pay tribute to all the work they do in support of the armed services family.

Ex-servicemen

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what support his Department provides to military personnel upon discharge with regard to  (a) employment needs,  (b) housing needs and  (c) financial planning advice; and if he will make a statement.

Kevan Jones: The National Audit Office report "Leaving The Services" of 2007 acknowledged the success of the resettlement programme which found that 94 per cent. of those seeking work who used the career transition partnership resettlement services were in paid employment within six months of leaving the armed forces. Nevertheless, the Ministry of Defence recognises that making the transition from the armed forces into civilian life can be daunting.
	Individual employment needs are identified from a mandatory interview with a trained service resettlement adviser who is able to signpost to a number of organisations and services ranging from the 'flexible new deal' programme available at Jobcentre Plus through to workshops and training delivered through the career transition partnership, a partnering arrangement with a leading specialist outplacement company. Furthermore, lifetime job finding support is available through the Officers' Association or the Regular Forces Employment Association.
	For housing, all service personnel can attend presentations delivered by the Joint Service Housing Advice Office throughout the country and overseas. The "Options for Housing" presentation includes financial advice for housing options and accessing the Key Worker Living Scheme, entitlement to which has been extended for a year after discharge, in line with our Service Personnel Command Paper (7424) commitment. We have also removed the local connection criteria that treated service personnel unfairly when accessing social housing. For single personnel, SPACES (Single Persons Accommodation Centre for the Ex-Services) aims to assist single service leavers with securing accommodation. Our latest project "The Beacon" in Catterick complements Mike Jackson House in Aldershot and the Galleries in Richmond, which help us to reduce the potential of a single person leaving the armed forces becoming homeless.
	Financial planning advice is provided through the Financial Aspects of Resettlement Briefing by the Forces Pension Society. This advises all service leavers throughout the country and overseas on matters ranging from the Armed Forces Pension Schemes through to debt counselling. The recent review of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme recommended that for those who receive compensation, there needs to be better guidance and/or access to independent financial advice to allow for informed decisions. The Government have accepted all recommendations in full.

Ex-servicemen

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the 1999 protocol between the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff and the Director General of the Prison Service on the identification of former service personnel in prison to link them with their former regiment upon release is still in force; and if he will make a statement.

Kevan Jones: We continue to work closely with the Ministry of Justice and the third sector to raise awareness of veterans in prison to the help and support available to them and to their families, while they serve their sentence and as they prepare for release. The Veterans In Custody Support Service, for example, is designed so that prison staff can quickly identify veterans in prison and refer them to the various support organisations available to assist them, including the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency. The agency's website, "Veterans: UK", provides additional links to further organisations, including regimental associations. Through this service, veterans are encouraged and assisted in seeking the necessary support to help address their needs.

Ex-servicemen

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there is a minimum length of time that must be served by military personnel to qualify for entitlement to support services provided by his Department upon discharge.

Kevan Jones: There is no minimum length of time that must be served by military personnel to qualify for entitlement to some form of support services provided by the Ministry of Defence upon discharge. In order to reflect the differing needs of service personnel, the longer that is served the greater the amount of time that is allocated to enable resettlement activity. The level of support needed and given for those that have served for a relatively short period of time, and who therefore have more recent experience of life outside the armed forces, is less than someone who has spent their working life in service. However, all service personnel are entitled to receive lifetime job finding support through either the Officers' Association or the Regular Forces Employment Association.
	Any personnel medically discharged are entitled a full resettlement package.

Ex-servicemen

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the budget for support services offered by his Department to military personnel upon discharge has been in each of the last 10 years.

Kevan Jones: The information is not held in the format requested. Only those costs relating to the contract held between the MOD and Right Management Ltd., a specialist outplacement company, are held centrally. The following table provides information on the amount expended, which reflects the number of service leavers taking advantage of the resettlement opportunities available.
	
		
			  Financial year  Total contract payments (£ million) 
			 2000-01 6.0 
			 2001-02 6.3 
			 2002-03 6.3 
			 2003-04 6.5 
			 2004-05 7.1 
			 2005-06 8.3 
			 2006-07 8.9 
			 2007-08 8.4 
			 2008-09 8.2 
		
	
	Other costs attributable to resettlement, such as the staffing costs for the Resettlement Information Service or the travel and subsistence for the service leaver, is not held centrally and could be provided only from a search of manual records at disproportionate cost.

Ex-servicemen: Prisoners

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information his Department holds on the number of armed forces veterans in prison in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

Kevan Jones: Information on the number of veterans in prison in Scotland is not held.
	On 6 January 2010,  Official Report, columns 6-7WS, my hon. Friend the Minister for the National Offender Management Service and I announced the results of the joint work by the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Justice to determine the number of veterans in prison in England and Wales. The Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DASA) organisation within the MOD have estimated that almost 3 per cent. of the prison population in England and Wales are veterans.
	We are currently investigating the feasibility of conducting a similar exercise with the Scottish Prison Service to determine the number of veterans in prison in Scotland.

Falkland Islands

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the total expenditure under the defence budget of the military presence in the Falkland Islands since 1982; and what estimate he has made of such expenditure in  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11.

Bill Rammell: The costs from 1982-83 to 2008-09 (outturn figures) for the Falkland Island are as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  £ million 
			 1982-83 780 
			 1983-84 637 (391) 
			 1984-85 644 (403) 
			 1985-86 572 (396) 
			 1986-87 402 (236) 
			 1987-88 229 (118) 
			 1988-89 102 (59) 
			 1989-90 68 (60) 
			 1990-91 66 
			 1991-92 72 
			 1992-93 58 
			 1993-94 67 
			 1994-95 66 
			 1995-96 70 
			 1996-97 81 
			 1997-98 76 
			 1998-99 72 
			 1999-2000 71 
			 2000-01 143 
			 2001-02 115 
			 2002-03 120 
			 2003-04 111 
			 2004-05 113 
			 2005-06 143 
			 2006-07 65 
			 2007-08 67 
			 2008-09 70 
		
	
	From 1983-84 to 1989-90 you will note two figures are available. The higher figure includes garrison costs, the cost of replacing capital equipment lost and residual campaign costs associated with the Falkland conflict. The lower figure reflects just garrison costs.
	There is some variation between years caused by what categories of expenditure were included. For example, in recent years figures do not include military equipment, military personnel pay, service children's education facilities, estate works and maintenance, IT and communication, maritime visits or air charter. Costs associated with these activities are met by other top level budget holders. The MOD's core budget is separated into eight top level budget holders (TLBs), each responsible for delivering individual military objectives. Within these TLBs the budget is not routinely allocated in terms of regions, but in terms of categories of expenditure. To provide the level of detailed breakdown of these categories in relation to the Falkland Islands would be of disproportionate cost.
	The reason for the lower figures since 2006-07 is due to a change in MOD accounting policy, whereby reporting fixed asset depreciation costs and the cost of capital on fixed assets are recorded elsewhere.
	The estimated costs for 2009-10 and 2010-11 are £70 million and £69 million respectively.

Helicopters

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the end of service dates are of the helicopters in the Sea King fleet.

Quentin Davies: I refer the hon. Member for Moray to the statement made by the Secretary of State for Defence on 15 December 2009,  Official Report, columns 99-100WS.

HMS Gannet

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many search and rescue missions were flown from HMS Gannet in each of the last five years.

Bill Rammell: The information requested is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  HMS Gannet Search and Rescue 
			  Calendar year  SAR callouts  Persons assisted 
			 2005 267 226 
			 2006 269 303 
			 2007 359 286 
			 2008 382 347 
			 2009 447 378

HMS Gannet

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) civilian and  (b) service staff have been employed at HMS Gannet, Royal Navy Unit Prestwick in each of the last five years.

Bill Rammell: The civilian and service staff employed at HMS Gannet, Royal Navy Unit Prestwick, in each of the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			  Manning levels at HMS Gannet 
			   2005  2006  2007  2008  2009  2010 
			 Royal Navy aircrew 20 20 20 20 21 21 
			 Royal Navy support 92 63 17 13 8 5 
			 Contractor engineering support 0 0 40 42 42 45 
			 Civil service 11 10 8 8 8 8 
			 Support staff 18 20 20 17 16 15 
			 MGS/MDP 21 21 21 20 10 9 
			 Totals 162 134 134 120 105 103 
		
	
	The figures reflect: the award of the Sea King Integrated Operational Support contract in 2007, which replaced the Royal Navy Maintenance personnel with civilian contractors; and the reduction in the Military Guard Service/Ministry of Defence Police following the closure of the Greensite (accommodation and administrative site) which came under the jurisdiction of the Prestwick Airfield authority during 2008.

HMS Gannet

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the maintenance costs were of HMS Gannet, Royal Navy Unit Prestwick in each of the last five years.

Kevan Jones: Planned and reactive maintenance costs for HMS Gannet for each of the last five years are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Financial year  Maintenance cost (£) 
			 2005-06 72,351 
			 2006-07 72,082 
			 2007-08 69,804 
			 2008-09 61,634 
			 2009-10 (1)43,724 
			 (1 )To date. 
		
	
	Projects outside the scope of this response include changes to operational requirements, condition improvements, and lifecycle replacements.
	The reduction in maintenance costs per year is due to the reactive maintenance element of the service provided. By its very nature reactive maintenance is unpredictable in its volume, scope and cost and is dependent on many operational usage factors.

Improvised Explosive Devices: Afghanistan

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of improvised explosive devices identified by the armed forces in Afghanistan in each quarter of each of the last three years.

Bob Ainsworth: I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Iraq Committee of Inquiry

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  whether any  (a) documents and  (b) other items of information in electronic format sought from his Department by the Iraq Inquiry have not been disclosed owing to the Government's obligations to foreign governments or international bodies; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many  (a) documents and  (b) other items of information held in electronic format at each level of security classification the Iraq Inquiry has requested from his Department; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how many and what proportion of  (a) documents and  (b) other items of information held in electronic format at each level of security classification requested by the Iraq Inquiry have been provided to it by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office (Angela E. Smith) on 14 December 2009,  Official Report, columns 840-41W.

Iraq Committee of Inquiry

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) documents and  (b) other items of information in electronic format provided by his Department to the Iraq Inquiry that Inquiry has sought to publish under the procedure set out in the protocol on documents and other written and electronic information; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 9 February 2010,  Official Report, column 894W.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will reply to the email from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire, dated 10 November 2009, on citation.

Kevan Jones: The hon. Member's e-mail was not sent to the correct address. It has now been resent and a response will be provided shortly.

Members: Correspondence

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to answer question 312672, on the crash of Nimrod XV230, tabled on 19 January 2010.

Bob Ainsworth: I replied to the hon. Member on 11 February 2010.

Met Office

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the definition of the Met Office's Public Task has been amended to take account of the reference to it in the most recent edition of the Cabinet Office Asset Portfolio; and if he will make a statement.

Kevan Jones: The definition of the Met Office's Public Task has not been amended. The December 2009 Cabinet Office Operational Efficiency Programme: Asset Portfolio document reflects Met Office's public task.

Met Office: Standards

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the accuracy of the forecasts provided by the Met Office in the last 12 months.

Kevan Jones: Met Office's short-range forecasting accuracy is one of its four key performance targets which is regularly monitored by the Met Office Board on behalf of the Minister. The targets are agreed annually and are laid in Parliament. Met Office report against their performance in their annual report which is also laid before Parliament.
	As a World Meteorological Organization (WMO) designated centre for seasonal/long-range forecasts, Met Office is required to carry out assessments of its forecasting accuracy using procedures laid down by WMO. The most recent assessment was carried out in September 2009.

Military Exercises

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of his Department's planned military training exercises were cancelled before they took place in each of the last five years.

Bill Rammell: Success in Afghanistan is our main effort, and will remain our principal commitment for as long as it takes. Our approach at this time must be and is Afghanistan first. All exercises that better prepare our forces for operations in Afghanistan will continue but those that are considered not to directly support our effort, have limited training value to support our effort, or where the planned objectives for that exercises can be achieved elsewhere have been cancelled.
	The proportion of MOD exercises cancelled in the last five full financial years is in the following table
	
		
			   Scheduled training events  Cancelled events  Percentage  Conducted 
			 2008-09 542 80 14.7 462 
			 2007-08 722 76 10.5 646 
			 2006-07 680 64 9.4 616 
			 2005-06 533 58 10.8 475 
			 2004-05 379 79 20.8 300

Missile Defence Centre

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what expenditure his Department has incurred on the Missile Defence Centre since it opened.

Quentin Davies: Since its launch in July 2003 until the end of financial year 2008-09, the Ministry of Defence has spent some £35.7 million on missile defence research managed by the UK Missile Defence Centre. A further £4.6 million is forecast for the current financial year.

Navy: Middle East

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what tasks  (a) HMS Pembroke and  (b) HMS Lancaster are currently deployed in the Middle East.

Bill Rammell: HMS Pembroke is assisting with ensuring free movement of ships to Iraq and the region as part of Operation Telic. At the invitation of other nations, she may also take part in multinational exercises with regional naval forces.
	HMS Lancaster is tasked under Operation Calash to carry out counter-terrorism and counter-piracy operations in order to improve the stability of the region.

Nimrod Aircraft

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the oral statement of 16 December 2009,  Official Report, columns 967-69, on the Nimrod review, whether he has taken steps to apportion  (a) responsibility and  (b) liability to (i) BAE Systems and (ii) QinetiQ in respect of the crash of Nimrod XV230 in September 2006.

Bob Ainsworth: Yes. We set up the Nimrod Review in order, among other things, to assess where responsibility lay for the crash of Nimrod XV230. BAE Systems and QinetiQ were therefore put on notice in December 2007 that MOD might bring them into the compensation claims brought against MOD by the bereaved families. That position has been confirmed since the publication of Mr. Haddon-Cave's report and discussions with the companies' lawyers will commence shortly.

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on the Government's position at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in May 2010.

Bob Ainsworth: I have regular exchanges on nuclear matters with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and my other Cabinet colleagues.
	We continue to work with partners from across the international community to seek a mandate for concrete, realistic and balanced action to strengthen the NPT's three mutually reinforcing pillars: non-proliferation, disarmament, and the peaceful use of nuclear energy, as well as addressing the threats to nuclear security.

Officers

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) Major-Generals and  (b) Brigadiers there are posted in the South of England.

Bill Rammell: As at 1 October 2009, a total of 120 Brigadiers and 30 Major-Generals were stationed in the South of England. These figures include those temporarily deployed on operations away from their home station.

Officers

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) Major-Generals and  (b) Brigadiers there are in the army; and what the establishment is for each such rank.

Bill Rammell: As at 1 December 2009, there were 41 Major-Generals against an establishment of 44, and 174 Brigadiers against an establishment of 174.

Officers

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) Major-Generals and  (b) Brigadiers in the army are on gardening leave.

Bill Rammell: There are currently no Major-Generals or Brigadiers in the Army on gardening leave.

Officers: Pay

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the salary is of a Major-General.

Bill Rammell: The base pay of a Major-General ranges between £101,537 and £114,729, depending on performance. This is augmented by an X-Factor of £2,336. The X-Factor is a percentage increase to basic pay which reflects the difference between the conditions of service experienced by members of the armed forces and conditions in civilian life, which cannot directly be taken into account by the job evaluation process.
	The salaries for Major-Generals and above, and their equivalents in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, are determined by the Senior Salaries Review Body.

Public Holidays

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of the introduction of an additional public holiday; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: We have made no estimate of the cost of an additional public holiday. Salary costs are fixed and would be unchanged. Military pay already takes account of the need to work unsocial and additional on-call hours as required, and elements of our Armed Forces already undertake duties on certain public holidays. While it might be necessary for some civilians in key roles to work on the public holiday, we would seek to minimise the cost to the Department by encouraging them to take time off in lieu, as is the MOD's current working practice. Similarly, we plan activities in advance to minimise disruption.
	There would be some compensating savings, for example from reduced consumption of utilities, such as electricity, at MOD premises.

RAF Croughton

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates US  (a) military personnel,  (b) civilians and  (c) contractors moved from RAF Fairford to RAF Croughton.

Bill Rammell: No US personnel or contractors have moved from RAF Fairford to RAF Croughton.

RAF Lyneham

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the construction cost was of the  (a) new HQ building,  (b) C130J simulator building,  (c) new HQ for (i) 24 and (ii) 30 Squadron,  (d) new gymnasium,  (e) new pitch roof on the barrack blocks,  (f) new sergeant's mess annexe,  (g) new HQ for 47 Air Despatch Regiment and  (h) extension to the security fence on the south side of the main entrance; and what further infrastructure improvements are planned to take place at RAF Lyneham.

Bill Rammell: In line with guidance from the National Audit Office, financial records are not retained for longer than six years and the information requested is therefore not available prior to 2004. Most of the construction projects referred to in the question were completed before this date and are no longer considered as new. The fitness suite was completed in 2004 and cost £784,000. The extension of the security fence was completed in 2009 and cost £18,000. These have been minimal expenditure on infrastructure since collocation at RAF Brize Norton was announced in 2003.

RAF Menwith Hill

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates members of the Intelligence and Security Committee have visited Menwith Hill since 2000; and which members of the committee participated in each such visit.

Bill Rammell: The Intelligence and Security Committee does not comment on its work programme. Where appropriate it publishes information on visits it has undertaken in its annual reports.

RAF Menwith Hill

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the Missile Defence System operations at RAF Menwith Hill in the next two years.

Bill Rammell: There are no plans to change the existing missile defence arrangements at RAF Menwith Hill.

Rescue Services: Scotland

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the monetary value is of the contract agreed with the Soteria Consortium for the provision of search and rescue services in Scotland.

Quentin Davies: While Soteria have been chosen as the preferred bidder for the search and rescue helicopter (SAR-H) project, the contract has yet to be signed. The finalised value of the contract to provide the search and rescue helicopter capability for the whole of the UK is likely to be in the region of £6 billion over the 25-year life of the service. It is not possible to break down the value of the contract by region.

Rescue Services: Scotland

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect of the privatisation of search and rescue operations on local economies in Scotland.

Quentin Davies: The future SAR helicopter service in Scotland is expected to be provided from four locations (Stornoway, Sumburgh, RAF Lossiemouth and Glasgow airport, which is taking over from RNAS Prestwick). With the introduction of new, modern, more reliable helicopters there is likely to be a reduction in personnel at the two locations where they take over from the MOD Sea Kings (RAF Lossiemouth and RNAS Prestwick). The details will be finalised as the contract is agreed. As such, there is likely to be a negligible impact on the economy of Scotland as a whole from the contractorisation of the future service.

Reserve Forces

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the  (a) Royal Auxiliary Air Force,  (b) Territorial Army and  (c) Royal Naval Reserve are based in Scotland.

Kevan Jones: As at 5 February 2010, there are 224 Royal Naval Reservists, 141 Royal Marines Reservists, 2,506 in the Territorial Army and 252 personnel in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force based in Scotland.

Royal Navy Unit Prestwick

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated monetary value is of the property comprising Royal Navy Unit Prestwick; how much is planned to be spent on its redevelopment; and if there are plans to sell this facility.

Kevan Jones: The MOD has a long-term commercial lease to 2019 with the Prestwick Airport Authorities for the HMS Gannet Air Station. The existing assets on the site are appropriately maintained but, as we do not own the site itself, there are no plans for redevelopment.

Royal Navy Unit Prestwick

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of jobs that will be lost as the result of the transfer of search and rescue operations from the Royal Navy Unit Prestwick to Glasgow; and what plans there are for the transfer of existing staff.

Kevan Jones: It is not anticipated that the decision to move future search and rescue operations from HMS Gannet at Prestwick to Glasgow airport will result in any job losses. Appropriate civilian personnel will be offered the opportunity to work with the successful contractor under the rules of Trade Union Protection of Employment (TUPE).

Service Personnel and Veterans Agency

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many employees there have been in the Service Personnel and Veteran Agency in each month since its creation; and what expenditure his Department has incurred on the Agency in each year since it was established.

Kevan Jones: The Veterans Agency (VA) merged with the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency in April 2007 to become the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA).
	These figures and further related information can be found in the SPVA Annual Report and Accounts, copies of which are held in the Library of the House.

Service Personnel and Veterans Agency

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many calls have been received by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency Veterans-UK Helpline in the month since that service was started;
	(2)  what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the Veterans-UK Helpline.

Kevan Jones: Veterans-UK Helpline has been in place for a number of years and answered 249,739 calls in financial year 2008-09 and has answered 176,898 calls for April 2009 to January 2010.
	Benchmarking exercises in August 2007 and August 2008, conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, assessed the effectiveness of the Veterans-UK Helpline and compared it against internal and external call centres. In these assessments, the Veterans-UK Helpline compared favourably, being placed in the top quartile for overall performance.
	Regular customer surveys also are conducted. In the 2008 survey 99 per cent. of customers rated the overall service provided as very satisfactory or satisfactory. Recommendations made in surveys are implemented where practicable.
	In addition ongoing management checks are conducted to assess call handling and management.
	As part of the Welfare Pathway I launched an additional National Point of Contact on 4 November 2009. This provides members of the Armed Forces, their families and Veterans with a single number to access support from a number of established service helplines and the Veterans-UK helpline on 08000 22 33 66.
	In March 2011 an evaluation of the Welfare Pathway initiative will include the National Point of Contact.

Stabilisation Unit

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations the Military Stabilisation and Support Group has at the Permanent Joint Headquarters.

Bill Rammell: The Military Stabilisation and Support Group (MSSG) is a tri-service unit that forms part of 8 Force Engineer Brigade. While there is no MSSG 'representation' in PJHQ, the military stabilisation and support function, also known as Civil-Military Co-operation, or CIMIC, is well represented. PJHQ has a CIMIC-trained officer, and its deployable Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ) has a specialist officer responsible for engineering and CIMIC issues. Within the MSSG itself, there is a small Operations and Planning team of three staff officers ready to deploy with JFHQ at one week's notice.

Stabilisation Unit: Haiti

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to use members of the Military Stabilisation and Support Team to assist in humanitarian efforts in Haiti.

Bill Rammell: There are currently no plans to deploy a Military Stabilisation Support Team from the Military Stabilisation and Support Group (MSSG) to Haiti. The Department for International Development has the lead role in the UK's response to the Haitian earthquake, and does not currently require any military assistance beyond that already in Haiti or en route in RFA Largs Bay, following a reconnaissance by Permanent Joint Headquarters staff. The Ministry of Defence continues to take an active role in the UK response, and will provide further assistance where possible if required.

Veterans' World

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) cost and  (b) circulation was of the publication Veterans World in the latest period for which figures are available.

Kevan Jones: Approximately 18,000 hard copies of the January 2010 edition of Veterans World were distributed at a cost of approximately £10,000. The publication is produced three times a year and is sent to ex-service organisations, mental health care workers, resettlement offices, homeless shelters, disability employment advisers, citizens advice bureau and the HM Prison Service. Audio copies of the publication are available and it can also be accessed via the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency website.
	The aim of the publication is to raise awareness of the help, advice and support available to ex-service personnel and their families. For example, in the latest issue-No 15 it included articles on the launch of the Armed Forces Community Pathway, St. Dunstan's plans for a new centre in Wales, changes to the Veterans Welfare Service and initiatives for helping Veterans in Prison.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Bloody Sunday Tribunal of Inquiry

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to receive the final report of the Saville Inquiry.

Shaun Woodward: Lord Saville has indicated that he intends to deliver his report to Government in the week commencing 22 March 2010.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many freedom of information requests were submitted to the Northern Ireland Office in each of the last two years.

Paul Goggins: The following table shows the number of requests received by the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) in the last two years.
	
		
			   Number of requests received 
			 2008 183 
			 2009 254 
		
	
	The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) has committed to publishing quarterly updates in relation to departmental performance under FOI, including information on both the volume and outcome of requests. The bulletins up to the 2009 third quarter can be found on the MOJ website at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/freedomofinformation quarterly.htm
	and in the Libraries of both Houses. MOJ will be publishing information from the 2009 fourth quarter in spring 2010.

Departmental Manpower

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many performance reviews were undertaken in respect of staff of  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies in each of the last five years; in how many cases performance was rated as unsatisfactory or below; how many staff left as a direct result of such a rating; and what percentage of full-time equivalent staff this represented.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) operates a rigorous performance review policy that applies to all staff. The policy dictates that all NIO staff are subject to annual performance reviews and procedures are in place to deal with inefficiency/poor performance.
	Full electronic records are not held to allow for an exact figure to be given in relation to the number of performance reviews actually carried out. It is, however, estimated that the overall figure in relation to the NIO and its agencies would be approximately 2,000 in each of the last five years.
	The number of cases within the NIO and its agencies where annual performance was rated as unsatisfactory in each of the last five years is detailed in the following table.
	
		
			   Number 
			 2004-05 (1)- 
			 2005-06 6 
			 2006-07 (1)- 
			 2007-08 (1)- 
			 2008-09 6 
			 (1) Suppressed. Information not released on grounds of confidentiality. 
		
	
	No staff have been dismissed in the last five years as a direct result of an unsatisfactory annual performance review.

Offences against Children

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland were convicted in connection with an offence of a sexual nature that involved a child under 15 in each of the last three years.

Paul Goggins: The information is not available in the format requested. Northern Ireland conviction data do not include victim information, such as age, in relation to the commission of an offence. It is possible, therefore, only to give the number of convictions for those sexual offences which by their definition refer to a child or children. The one exception to this is the offence 'unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under 14 years'-which confirms that the victim was under 15.
	Convictions for these offences are documented in the following table. Data cover the calendar years 2004 to 2006 (the latest year for which figures are available) and are collated on the principal offence rule; so only the most serious offence for which an offender is convicted is included.
	
		
			  Number of convictions for sexual offences involving children by offence 2004 - 06 
			  Offence  2004  2005  2006 
			 Gross indecency with child 3 6 5 
			 Buggery with a boy under 16 years 6 1 3 
			 Buggery with a girl 1 0 0 
			 Unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under 14 years 4 3 3 
			 Unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under 17 years 2 4 5 
			 Permitting girl under 17 years to use premises for intercourse 0 1 0 
			 Indecent assault on female child 3 18 2 
			 Indecent assault on male child 4 5 0 
			 Meeting a child following sexual grooming 0 0 2 
			 Distributing indecent photograph or pseudo photographs of children 1 1 1 
			 Possessing indecent photograph or pseudo photographs of children 1 2 0 
			 Possession of indecent/pseudo photographs of children with a view to distribution 1 0 0 
			 Taking indecent photograph or pseudo photographs of children 8 1 0 
			 Copying indecent photograph or pseudo photographs of children 2 0 0 
			 Making indecent photograph or pseudo photographs of children 7 10 15 
			 Total 43 52 36

Prisoners: Internet

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether prisoners in Northern Ireland have regular access to the internet.

Paul Goggins: Managed internet access arrangements that allow controlled access to approved sites are available to prisoners in Northern Ireland. Supervised access to approved sites is an essential part of education provision, in particular for prisoners who are studying Open University, ICT or Essential Skills courses.

Reoffenders

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his most recent estimate is of the proportion of prisoners released from prisons in Northern Ireland who re-offended within two years.

Paul Goggins: The most recent estimate of prisoners released from prison in Northern Ireland who are reconvicted within two years was published by the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) within 'Research and Statistical Bulletin 8/2008-Reconviction in Northern Ireland: Results from the 2005 Cohort'. During 2005, 892 people were released from immediate custody and, of these, 444 were reconvicted of a subsequent offence within two years of being released. This equates to a two-year reconviction rate of 49.8 per cent.
	The bulletin can be downloaded from the following link:
	http://www.nio.gov.uk/index/statistics-research/publications.htm

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

House of Commons: Buildings

Kate Hoey: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission when the carpets in the Chamber and the division lobbies were last replaced; by what means carpets removed were disposed of; and whether the House of Commons Commission has made a recent estimate of the cost of replacing those carpets.

Nick Harvey: The carpets in the Commons Chamber and Division Lobbies were last replaced in 1995; there is no record of the disposal method. The cost of replacing the carpets now is some £62,000, including fitting and VAT. The old carpet will be recycled into biofuel.

Members: Allowances

Frank Field: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission under what budgetary headings the House of Commons Commission has incurred expenditure in relation to  (a) the review of the Additional Cost Allowance and  (b) Sir Paul Kennedy's review.

Nick Harvey: The budgetary headings under which expenditure has been incurred for the Additional Cost Allowance review are: work commissioned, staff costs and office supplies. The budgetary headings in relation to Sir Paul Kennedy's work are: work commissioned, travel and office supplies.

OLYMPICS

Olympic Games 2012: Essex

Simon Burns: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what recent assessment she has made of the economic effects of the London 2012 Olympics on  (a) West Chelmsford constituency and  (b) Essex.

Tessa Jowell: The Government and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games have established the Nations and Regions Group with representatives from each of the nations and English regions to maximise the economic, as well as the sporting and cultural, benefits of the 2012 Games.
	To date, 84 businesses registered in the East of England have won contracts directly with the Olympic Delivery Authority, 27 of which are in Essex including one in West Chelmsford.
	The London 2012 Business Network was set up to provide businesses across the UK with access to contracts in the London 2012 supply chains and any support they need to compete for them. At the end of January, over 11,600 businesses from the East of England had registered on CompeteFor, the electronic brokerage service for buyers and suppliers. So far 60 of these have won contracts. Businesses can find out about Games-related contract opportunities on CompeteFor at:
	www.competefor.com
	and for business support services, businesses in the East of England can contact Business Link at:
	www.businesslink.co.uk/eastofengland
	or by calling 0845 717 1615.
	Hosting the Olympic Mountain Biking Competition in Hadleigh Farm in Essex will provide an opportunity to showcase the region to the rest of the UK and abroad, increasing further the potential for the region to benefit economically.

PRIME MINISTER

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Prime Minister when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 29 November 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Colin Bardsley.

Gordon Brown: A reply has been sent.

Stabilisation Unit

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Prime Minister which Minister is responsible for the Stabilisation Unit; and what the unit's budget is for 2009-10.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the press notice issued by my office on 9 February 2010. A copy is available on the No. 10 website:
	http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page22421

WALES

Devolution: Referendums

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the cost to the public purse was of the most recent referendum on devolution in Wales.

Peter Hain: The cost of the 1997 referendum on devolution in Wales was in the region of £2 million.

Devolution: Referendums

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the  (a) highest and  (b) lowest likely cost to the public purse of a referendum in Wales on the extension of powers under the Government of Wales Act 2006;
	(2)  by what mechanism public funding in respect of any referendum held in Wales on the extension of powers under the Government of Wales Act 2006 would be  (a) provided and  (b) allocated.

Peter Hain: My officials are currently considering the potential costs of a referendum, and the mechanisms involved, for discussion with other key stakeholders.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Departmental Training

Mark Harper: To ask the Leader of the House whether any  (a) staff away days and  (b) staff team building exercises have been held for staff in the Leader of the House's Office in each of the last two years.

Barbara Keeley: A range of development opportunities are open to civil servants in the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons. These are discussed by each member of staff as part of their appraisal process.

Departmental Training

Mark Harper: To ask the Leader of the House how much was spent on  (a) staff training and  (b) communication training for the Leader of the House's Office in the last 12 months.

Barbara Keeley: Training courses are just one aspect of the development opportunities open to civil servants in the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons, and every member of staff discusses their personal development as part of their appraisal process.
	Information on courses attended is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, during the last 12 months members of staff participated in training provided by external training organisations and internal training courses which are provided by the Cabinet Office free of charge.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Crimes of Violence: Females

Theresa May: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how much the Government Equalities Office spent on producing and distributing the Tackling violence against women and girls: a guide to good practice communication document.

Maria Eagle: The production of "Tackling violence against women and girls: a guide to good practice communication" cost the GEO £134,868.78 excluding VAT. This cost includes considerable new research. The guide is a web-based document; therefore no distribution costs were incurred. The guide has been well received by partners in government and outside.

Departmental Disabled Staff

Mark Harper: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many and what proportion of staff in  (a) the Government Equalities Office and  (b) the executive agencies for which she is responsible are disabled; and what the average salary in the Office is of (i) full-time disabled staff, (ii) full-time non-disabled staff, (iii) part-time disabled staff and (iv) part-time non-disabled staff.

Michael Jabez Foster: The Government Equalities Office has less than 10 staff that have elected to declare themselves as disabled. Given these small numbers it is not appropriate to give the information requested.

Departmental Energy

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what the estimated  (a) amount and  (b) cost was of energy used in her Department and its agencies in each year since 1997; what proportion of the energy used was generated from renewable sources in each of those years; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Jabez Foster: Since it's creation on 12 October 2007, the Government Equalities Office has occupied accommodation in Communities and Local Government-owned buildings under a memorandum of terms of occupancy. The invoices that result do not show the components of the cost of GEO occupancy and no figures are available on the amount and cost of energy used.

Departmental Official Hospitality

John Mason: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many receptions she has hosted for representatives of print and broadcast media since 3 October 2008.

Michael Jabez Foster: No receptions have been hosted for representatives of print and broadcast media since 3 October 2008.

Departmental Travel

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality if she will publish the travel guidance issued to staff of the Government Equalities Office's non-departmental public bodies.

Maria Eagle: The Government Equalities Office does not issue separate travel guidance to their non-departmental public bodies which are:
	Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)
	Women's National Commission (WNC)
	WNC uses the same policy as the Government Equalities Office (GEO) which will be published on GEO's external website at:
	www.equalities.gov.uk
	The EHRC follows its own travel policy and a copy of their travel guidance will be placed in the Library.

Equality and Human Rights Commission: Databases

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2010,  Official Report, column 1003W, on Equality and Human Rights Commission: databases, what the budget is for the new equality measurement framework database; whether it will hold personal data; what anonymised Census data it will use; whether a privacy impact assessment for that database will be prepared; and which organisations will be asked to provide data for that database.  [Official Report, 26 February 2010, Vol. 506, c. 9-10MC.]

Maria Eagle: The Equality and Human Rights Commission budget for the development of the Equality Measurement Framework tool (EMF) is £2 million.
	The plan is that no personal data will be stored or used within the context of the framework and because the data will be drawn from existing surveys most of which is already accessible to members of the public there will be no requirement for a privacy impact assessment.
	The framework will not be using anonymised census information.
	The intention is that data will be drawn from the following organisations: The Office for National Statistics, the NHS, the devolved Administrations, Government Departments, local government and the police force.

Feltham

Alan Keen: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality if she will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Feltham and Heston constituency, the effects on that constituency of changes to the Government Equalities Office's policies since its establishment.

Maria Eagle: The Government Equalities Office operates at a strategic level across Government to promote policies which address discrimination. It is not possible to provide statistical information about the effects on Feltham and Heston of the policies and actions of GEO since it was established.

Prostitution: Internet

Nigel Evans: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality whether the Government Equalities Office has made a recent estimate of the number of prostitutes who have become involved in the sex industry by making contact with companies on the internet; whether she plans to seek to prevent the use of the internet for such purposes; and if she will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The Government have not made an estimate of the number of prostitutes who have become involved in the sex industry through establishing contact via the internet.
	As part of the Violence Against Women Strategy, published in November 2009, the Government have also made a commitment to explore what action can be taken to challenge the advertising of prostitution.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Sewage

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the estimated completion date is of his Department's review of the Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989 and associated code of practice are currently being reviewed by DEFRA. Subject to policy clearance we will publish the proposals for a review, and draft regulations and a code of practice for public consultation, prior to making new regulations. This work is under way, but it is not possible to estimate how quickly the new regulations can be made.

Air Pollution: Greater London

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  when he last discussed air quality in London with the Mayor of London; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps his Department is taking to ensure that London meets air quality standards provided for in legislation; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: As Minister for the Environment, I last met with the Mayor of London in August 2009 to discuss air quality in London. Since then, the Secretary of State participated in a teleconference with the Mayor on this same matter on 7 December 2009.
	DEFRA officials meet regularly with the Greater London Authority (GLA) and Transport for London to discuss the Mayor's Air Quality Strategy and action necessary to meet both NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) and PM10 (particulate matter) limit values in London. These meetings include discussions on our preparations for our resubmission to the Commission for additional time to meet the PM10 limit value in London. The latest draft of the Mayor's strategy was published in October 2009 and contained many helpful measures within it. However, further detail on the impact of these measures is needed to assess their contribution to meeting air quality standards. I am advised that public consultation on the strategy should commence in March this year and officials will continue to work with the GLA on the contribution of the strategy to meeting air quality standards.

Animal Health Bill: Draft

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the draft Animal Health Bill, whether he plans to bring forward proposals to extend the powers available to inspectors.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Clause 47 of the draft Animal Health Bill broadens the powers available to inspectors to take samples of substances such as blood, tissue, excreta and milk to find out whether disease, or causative agents of disease exist.
	The draft Animal Health Bill has been published for consultation and will be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny by Parliament before any such Bill is formally introduced.

Animal Tracing Schemes

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what livestock traceability schemes his Department is responsible; and what the  (a) objectives and  (b) costs in 2009-10 are of each.

Jim Fitzpatrick: DEFRA is responsible for traceability across the main farmed livestock species: cattle, pigs, sheep and goats. Reliable traceability of livestock underpins disease control measures, ensures effective disease surveillance and maintains consumer confidence. Detailed figures by species are not available but identifying the main livestock species in England and tracking their movements costs Government and the livestock industry in the region of £55 million per year(1).
	(1) NAO report "Identifying and Tracking Livestock in England": November 2003.

Association of Photographers

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received from the Association of Photographers on Environment Agency photography contracts.

Jim Fitzpatrick: DEFRA has received a letter on behalf of the Association of Photographers on the Environment Agency's photography contracts.
	The Environment Agency has been in contact with relevant photography organisations to clarify that all photographers will be paid for their work whether that be covering expenses, royalties or paying an agreed rate for their time.

Bees: Imports

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he has made an estimate of the cost to the bee industry of importing queen bees in the last five years.

Dan Norris: No estimate has been made of the cost of importing queen bees. The cost to the bee industry varies considerably depending on the country of origin and the number of bees per consignment and can range between approximately £7-£50 or more for specialist breeder queens. The Food and Environment Research Agency's national bee unit records data on the number of bees imported into England for statutory disease control purposes. This data was set out in the answer of 7 December 2009,  Official Report, column 7W.

Carbon Emissions: Business

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the average amount of carbon dioxide emitted by companies which do not meet the minimum reporting guidelines on greenhouse gas emissions in each of the last three years.

Dan Norris: We encourage companies to publicly disclose their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions using the recently published DEFRA/Department of Environment and Climate Change "Guidance on how to measure and report your greenhouse gas emissions", but such disclosures are not collected by the Government. No estimate has been made of the average carbon dioxide emissions of companies that do not report their GHG emissions.

Departmental Accountancy

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether any written instructions have been provided to his Department's Accounting Officer in accordance with paragraph 5.5 of the Ministerial Code since May 1997.

Dan Norris: Each accounting officer receives a copy of chapter 3 of Managing Public Money (the Accounting Officer Memorandum), which includes instructions on ministerial directions.

Departmental Consultants

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much consultants employed by his Department and its agencies have been paid  (a) in total and  (b) in reimbursable expenses in each of the last 10 years.

Dan Norris: The information is as follows:
	 (a) DEFRA has reported its use of consultants in its annual departmental reports.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Area 
			  Departmental reports  Management and business consultancy  Specialist consultancy 
			 2002-03 15 40 
			 2003-04 20 40 
			 2004-05 79 36 
			 2005-06 44 37 
			 2006-07 29 54 
			  Note: The figures were derived on identifying the spend with particular external suppliers and placing all that spend under one of the areas shown in the table. It was recognised that this does lead to some inaccuracies as spend with a supplier may be across more than one expenditure area. But at the time, this was the only method available. 
		
	
	Refined processes were introduced in 2007-08, which allowed DEFRA to be more specific in the 2009 departmental report (for fiscal year 2007-08) with more accurate figures for Professional Services Consultancy. This is based on the extensive use of improved procurement category codes, a process which OGC adopted for the first Public Sector Procurement Expenditure Survey in October 2008 using their own version of category codes and to which we needed to map our category codes.
	
		
			  PSPES reports( 1) 
			   £ million 
			 2007-08 37 
			 2008-09 35 
			 2009-10 (Ap-No. only) (2)23 
			 (1) PSPES-Annual Public Sector Procurement Expenditure Survey. (2) To be validated for next PSPES. 
		
	
	 (b) Information on reimbursable expenses could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Domestic Visits

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many planned visits by Ministers in his Department within the UK were cancelled within 72 hours of the visit taking place in the last 12 months; and what the planned venue or venues were for each such visit.

Dan Norris: The Department does not hold information in the form requested. Even if collation in this form were possible, it could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Manpower

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many employees in  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies are in transition prior to being managed out; how long on average the transition window between notification and exit has been in (i) his Department and (ii) each of its agencies in each of the last five years; what estimate he has made of the salary costs of staff in transition in each such year; and what proportion of employees in transition were classed as being so for more than six months in each year.

Dan Norris: The definition of 'in transition' we have used in answering this question is 'employees who have been officially declared surplus'.
	As at 4 February 2010, the number of surplus employees in core DEFRA is so low that we are withholding it on the grounds of the confidentiality of the individuals concerned. There are currently 33 surplus employees in the Rural Payments Agency and seven in animal health. None of the other agencies currently have surplus employees.
	Not all the information requested is available as DEFRA has not maintained a historical central record of its surplus employees, but it is now.

Departmental Recruitment

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many job vacancies in his Department and its agencies were filled through external recruitment in the last year for which figures are available.

Dan Norris: For the 2009 calendar year DEFRA and its agencies filled 909 vacancies through external recruitment. Core DEFRA and its agencies comprises 10,189 staff (figure at 31 March 2009).

Departmental Recruitment

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department and its agencies spent on external recruitment consultants in the last year for which figures are available.

Dan Norris: Our purchasing systems do not separate out expenditure on external recruitment consultants from expenditure on other HR consultancy services supplied to DEFRA and our agencies. The information requested can therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Food: Origin Marking

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many applications he has received for an EU Traditional Speciality Guaranteed designation for UK products in each of the last four years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: DEFRA is the National Competent Authority for the UK. Applications are submitted to and assessed by ADAS (for England), and the appropriate devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland before being forwarded to DEFRA.
	Since 2006, five applications have been made for protection under the EU's Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG) designation. The breakdown of applications is as follows:
	
		
			   Number of TSG applications received 
			 2006 0 
			 2007 2 
			 2008 3 
			 2009 0 
			 Total 5

Hotels

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many separate bookings for stays at five star or above hotels were made through the Expotel contract by his Department in the last year for which figures are available; and at what cost.

Dan Norris: Expotel are unable to provide details of the star rating of the hotel accommodation booked, this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Origin Marking

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many applications he has received for EU  (a) Protected Geographical Indication and  (b) Protected Designation of Origin status for UK products in each of the last four years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: DEFRA is the national competent authority for the UK, although applications are submitted to and assessed by ADAS (for England), and the appropriate devolved Administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland before being forwarded to DEFRA.
	Since 2006, the number of UK applications for Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) or Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status which have been received are as follows:
	
		
			   PGI  PDO 
			 2006 3 3 
			 2007 2 2 
			 2008 4 4 
			 2009 0 11 
			 Total 9 20

Power Stations: Plymouth

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how frequently the Environment Agency monitors the effect on air quality of emissions from Langage power station.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Environment Agency require Langage power station to monitor chimney emissions continually. Each day a turbine is running, the operator is required to record the daily average and maximum hourly average emissions.
	The Environment Agency can inspect or audit the collection of this data on-site at any time.

Ragwort

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effects of ragwort on the health of horses and grazing stock.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Government are aware of the effects of ragwort on the health of horses and grazing stock and in 2004 issued a Code of Practice on How to Prevent the Spread of Ragwort. The Code applies to Common ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) which is one of five injurious weeds specified in the Weeds Act 1959. Common ragwort is the only one of the five weeds listed in the Act which is poisonous to horses and other grazing animals.
	The code was drawn up in consultation with a steering group which included the British Horse Society and includes an environmental appraisal which drew on evidence from a number of sources of the effects of ragwort poisoning on horses and other livestock. The code provides comprehensive guidance to all land owners and occupiers on how to take a cost effective approach to weed control.
	DEFRA's policy under the Weeds Act 1959 is to control injurious weeds where there is a threat to animal welfare or agricultural activities. DEFRA's policy is not to eradicate Common Ragwort and other injurious weeds because in the right place, Common Ragwort and the other specified weeds make an important contribution to the biodiversity of the countryside.

Ragwort

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will bring forward proposals to make his Department's guidance on controlling the spread of ragwort more effective.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Government's "Code of Practice on How to Prevent the Spread of Ragwort" was published in July 2004 and we have no immediate plans to review the code.

Stress

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the advice issued to staff of his Department on stress recognition and management.

Dan Norris: DEFRA encourages staff to use our comprehensive intranet-based toolkit information on the awareness, prevention and management of stress in and outside the workplace. An additional resource offering information, guidance and various sources of confidential support is also accessible to all departmental staff on an externally hosted microsite, via our occupational health provider.
	DEFRA is currently developing a new Stress policy and anticipates this will be published on its intranet for the information of all staff and managers by this summer.
	I will place copies of our advice in the Library.

Trees

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he plans to increase the net number of trees in the next five years.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Our Strategy for England's Trees, Woods and Forests puts a strong emphasis on planting the right tree in the right place. We will be taking an integrated approach to see where additional woodland can complement other activities.
	As part of the Low Carbon Transition Plan announced in July, the Forestry Commission and DEFRA are working to develop the framework needed for a step change in the level of woodland creation for the next 15 years. As part of this, the Forestry Commission will be working with partners in each region to identify scope for increasing the area of woodland.

Veterinary Services: Complaints

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received on the consideration by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons of complaints relating to veterinary services; and if he will bring forward proposals to amend the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 to provide for the regulation by his Department of complaints procedures in relation to veterinary services.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has written to request that DEFRA put forward a legislative reform order (using powers in the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006) to change the constitution of the Disciplinary Committee and Preliminary Investigation Committee. The President of the British Veterinary Association has written in support of the RCVS proposal.
	I am due to meet the Action Group Against the Professional Conduct Department of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons on 2 March to discuss their concerns about the current system for investigating complaints against veterinary surgeons.

Written Questions: Administrative Delays

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he plans to answer Question 300896, on departmental pay, tabled on 18 November 2009.

Dan Norris: I replied to the hon. Member on 28 January 2010,  Official Report, columns 1004-06W.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Barking Park

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what charging regime is in place for users of Barking Park car park; and how much revenue has been received from such charges in each of the last five years.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 10 February 2010
	While my Department is responsible for the Royal Parks, which manages the eight Royal Parks and a number of other open spaces, Barking Park is not one of these.
	Barking Park is run by the London borough of Barking and Dagenham and any information regarding car parking charges would have to be requested directly from them.

Brass Bands: Finance

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress he has made in the provision of additional funding for brass bands.

Margaret Hodge: The provision of additional funding for brass bands is being undertaken by Arts Council England who advise they are unable to provide the full breakdown of information within the necessary timeframe.
	I have therefore asked the chief executive of The Arts Council England to write direct to the hon. Member.
	Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Departmental Disabled Staff

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many and what proportion of staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) the executive agency for which he is responsible are disabled; and what the average salary in (i) his Department and (ii) the executive agency is of (A) full-time disabled staff, (B) full-time non-disabled staff, (C) part-time disabled staff and (D) part-time non-disabled staff.

Gerry Sutcliffe: My Department currently employs 15 (3.1 per cent.) disabled staff. The Royal Parks Agency currently employs five (4 per cent.) disabled staff. These figures show those employees who have actually declared a disability.
	The average salary across all grades in both DCMS and the Royal Parks Agency is set out in the table.
	
		
			  £ 
			   Full-time  Part-time 
			  DCMS   
			 Disabled 32,936 25,139 
			 Non-disabled 39,669 26,045 
			
			  Royal Parks Agency   
			 Disabled 30,752.20 - 
			 Non-disabled 32,224.73 31,039.25

Departmental NDBPs

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on how many occasions he has met representatives of each of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department in the last 12 months.

Ben Bradshaw: I have met with representatives of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Department at a number of events in the course of my duties. The Minister for Culture has also held 14 formal meetings with these bodies.

Departmental Public Relations

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  with reference to the answer of 5 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1744W, on departmental public relations, how many staff in his Department and its agency are  (a) embedded communicators and  (b) members of the Government Communications Network but are not listed in the Central Office of Information White Book;
	(2)  how many staff in his Department and its agencies  (a) have the status of embedded communicators and  (b) are members of the Government Communications Network but are not listed in the Central Office of Information White Book.

Ben Bradshaw: No members of staff in my Department or its agency, the Royal Parks, are embedded communicators. In addition to the Departments central communications directorate, the Government Olympic Executive (GOE) has a communications team consisting of 5.8 communications staff. This team is considered, and has been included in previous responses as, part of the Department's communications staff.
	Within my Department all members of the Government Communications Network (GCN) are listed in the Central Office of Information (COI) White Book. The Royal Parks Agency has four communications staff belonging to the GCN that are not listed in the COI White Book.

Departmental Surveys

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how much his Department spent on each  (a) survey and  (b) independent report it commissioned in each of the last five years; and which organisation was contracted in each such case;
	(2)  what  (a) surveys and  (b) independent reports commissioned by his Department were undertaken in each of the last five years; how much each cost; and which organisation undertook each.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The table shows how much my Department spent on our commissioned surveys and independent research reports for each year over the last five years, with the relevant organisation given in each case.
	
		
			   Commissioned organisation  Cost( 1) 
			  Surveys   
			 2005-06 BMRB £1,180,000 
			 2006 RSE Cons Ltd. £30,000 
			 2006 BMRB £51,000 
			 2006 Ipsos MORI £91,000 
			 2006-07 BMRB £1,796,000 
			 2007 Nottingham University Business School £47,000 
			 2007 BMRB £97,000 
			 2007 ORC International £5,000 
			 2007-08 BMRB £1,500,000 
			 2008 BMRB £69,000 
			 2008 BMRB £34,000 
			 2008-09 BMRB £1,406,000 
			 2009 Continental £50,000 
			 2009 BMRB £62,000 
			 2009 BMRB £27,000 
			 2010 Ipsos MORI £9,000 
			
			  Independent Reports   
			 2005 Cragg Ross Dawson £24,000 
			 2005 University of Stirling £5,000 
			 2005 Anglia University £33,000 
			 2005 Ipsos RSL £38,000 
			 2005 MasterCard £20,000 
			 2005 BOP £25,000 
			 2005 BMRB £54,000 
			 2005 National Opinion Research Centre US$83,000 
			 2005 University of Nottingham £29,000 
			 2006 Trauma Training £16,000 
			 2006 Frontier Economics £55,000 
			 2006 Work Foundation £25,000 
			 2006 Work Foundation £50,000 
			 2006 Experian £10,000 
			 2006 Lancaster University £50,000 
			 2006 David Trickley £15,000 
			 2006 Anne Eyre Trauma Training £29,000 
			 2006 De Montfort University £44,000 
			 2006 PWC £100,000 
			 2006 CIPFA £60,000 
			 2006 Morris Hargreaves McIntyre £29,000 
			 2006 Freshminds £29,000 
			 2006 Campbell Keegan Limited £25,000 
			 2006-07 Frontier Economics (comprised of several pieces of work) £179,000 
			 2007 Experian £15,000 
			 2007 BMRB and others £114,000 
			 2007 BMRB £20,000 
			 2007 TBR £45,000 
			 2008 PWC £81,000 
			 2008 BOP £15,000 
			 2008-09 Analysys Mason £50,000 
			 2008-09 BMRB £23,000 
			 2009 Frontier Economics (comprised of several pieces of work) £85,000 
			 2009 Europe Economics £15,000 
			 2009 PMP £37,000 
			 2009 BMG £45,000 
			 2009 Ipsos MORI £24,000 
			 2009 ARUP £47,000 
			 (1) All figures rounded to the nearest £1.000. 
		
	
	This does not include policy reports as we do not collect information on that basis.

Digital Broadcasting

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many complaints his Department and Digital UK have received relating to digital switchover from residents of  (a) North Cornwall constituency,  (b) Cornwall,  (c) the South West region and  (d) England in the latest period for which figures are available.

Si�n Simon: The information requested regarding my Department is not held in this manner and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
	Information on correspondence received by Digital UK is not held centrally.
	I have therefore asked the chief executive of Digital UK to write direct to the hon. Member for Cornwall North.
	Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Digital Broadcasting

Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will take steps to ensure that viewers in Rossendale and Darwen constituency are able to receive the full range of digital television channels.

Ben Bradshaw: The three public service broadcasting digital multiplexes, which carry around 15 channels including the public service broadcasting channels-BBC 1 and 2, ITV1, Channel 4 (S4C in Wales) and Five-should reach 98.5 per cent. of UK households after digital switchover. Services carried on the commercial multiplexes, which increase the number of channels available to around 40, are planned to reach 90 per cent. of UK households and any expansion of coverage is a commercial matter for the multiplex operators. In Granada these latter multiplexes reach around 97 per cent. of households.
	For those who require more services, there are other options for receiving digital services via satellite or cable.

Digital Broadcasting: Radio

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment his Department has made of the energy requirements of  (a) digital and DAB radios and  (b) analogue radios.

Ben Bradshaw: My Department along with the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) recently commissioned an independent review of the environmental impact of the Digital Radio Switchover programme. This research will look at current energy consumption of analogue, digital receivers and transmission networks; the projected energy consumption from a future increase in digital devices and potential developments in equipment and compatibility with other technologies.
	We expect the first phase of this study to be completed by spring.

Digital Broadcasting: Radio

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department has taken to inform the public of the Government's plans for analogue wavelengths as part of its plans for digital radio; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Digital Britain White Paper stated the Government's policy that, following the digital radio switchover, the MW spectrum will be re-allocated for non-radio purposes and the FM spectrum will be retained for radio, specifically for small commercial and community radio stations.
	We have also made our position clear during the passage of the Digital Economy Bill.

Digital Broadcasting: Radio

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations he has received from commercial radio stations on the effects on their businesses of the roll-out of digital audio broadcasting; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: My hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Mr. Simon) met representatives of the commercial radio sector a number of times, including at two joint DCMS and RadioCentre local radio summits, which were specifically intended to engage with the smallest local radio broadcasters.
	These dialogues have provided a number of opportunities to gain a clear insight into the potential impact of the digital radio switchover on radio businesses. In light of this, I believe that the proposals for a digital radio switchover, as set out in the Digital Britain White Paper, are supported by the vast majority of the radio sector.

Digital Broadcasting: Radio

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to support local commercial radio stations in Scotland in the transition to digital broadcasting.

Ben Bradshaw: My Department is in discussion with broadcasters from across the UK to consider the impact of digital radio switchover on local commercial radio stations. This will help inform what support, if any, is needed to aid the transition to digital, beyond those already set out in the draft Digital Economy Bill.

Digital Broadcasting: Radio

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport for what reason he decided to propose a digital radio switchover date of 2015; what assessment he made of the merits of proposing the switchover date of 2017 recommended in the Digital Radio Working Group report; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Digital Britain White Paper stated our vision for a digital radio switchover by the end of 2015. This timetable is based on industry projections of take-up over the next six years and represents an achievable date by which the switchover criteria could be achieved and a sufficient notice period for listeners to convert their remaining radio devices to digital.

Digital Switchover Help Scheme

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department has taken to ensure that those in vulnerable groups will be eligible for the scheme to provide free digital equipment during the digital switchover.

Si�n Simon: At the time of designing the help scheme for television switchover, research suggested that age and disability were the most important indicators of lower digital TV take-up and that these groups were most likely to struggle with digital switchover.
	For these reasons it was decided that the scheme would offer practical support for people who are: aged 75 or over, disabled, visually impaired or care home residents. Participating in the scheme costs a subsidised £40. However help is available free of charge where the eligible person is also in receipt of certain income related benefits.

Domestic Visits

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which constituencies he has visited on official duties in the last 12 months.

Ben Bradshaw: Constituency visits made in the last 12 months by myself and my predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Member for Leigh (Andy Burnham) are listed.
	Elmet
	City of York
	Westmorland and Lonsdale
	Blackpool North and Fleetwood
	Blackpool South
	Nottingham South
	Huddersfield
	Wakefield
	Glasgow Central
	Bristol West
	Gloucester
	Birmingham Hodge Hill
	Croydon North
	Liverpool Garston
	Liverpool Riverside
	Manchester Central
	Eccles
	Kensington and Chelsea
	Bethnal Green and Bow
	Plymouth Sutton
	Totnes
	Torbay
	Northampton North
	Corby
	Newport West
	Leyton and Wanstead
	Rotherham
	West Lancashire
	South Shields
	Newcastle Upon Tyne Central
	Liverpool Wavertree
	Luton South
	Stretford and Urmston
	Vauxhall
	Eltham
	Stoke on Trent Central
	Hull East
	Makerfield
	Wythenshawe and Sale East
	Bolton South East
	Burnley
	Bootle
	Southampton Itchen
	Arundel and South Downs

Drama: Young People

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent steps his Department has taken to encourage young people to participate in  (a) drama production and  (b) acting.

Margaret Hodge: Providing access to high quality drama and theatre opportunities is part of the cultural offer, currently being tested through Find Your Talent. Nearly £24 million is being invested into 10 pathfinder areas to test how best to offer all children and young people the opportunity to access five hours of high quality cultural activity a week. Each of the 10 pathfinders are offering opportunities for children and young people to experience and participate in theatre, especially those with least access.
	My Department also supported Arts Council England to deliver the £1.8 million national Young People's Participatory Theatre (YPPT) programme. This aims to increase young people's access to and participation in theatre through improved information on where to find and take part in high quality activities. We have also launched Open Doors, a scheme which saw theatres across the country opening up to provide interactive events and workshops highlighting the wide variety of potential careers in theatre.
	The A Night Less Ordinary initiative, launched by Arts Council England in February 2009 provided 122,000 free theatre tickets to under 26-year-olds in its first nine months. By removing price as a barrier to participation, the scheme enables more young people to experience theatre, and it is hoped will help to create both the practitioners and audiences of the future.

iPhone

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will bring forward proposals to enable deposit libraries to archive iPhone applications.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 9 February 2010
	The Legal Deposit Advisory Panel advises the Secretary of State on the deposit of non-print material. The Panel has made recommendations on the Collection and Preservation of UK Offline and Microform Publications and the Collection and Preservation of UK Online Publications Free of Charge and Without Access Restriction and we are currently consulting on the Panel's recommendations. The consultation period ends on 1 March 2010. The Government are keen to get these proposals through and will consider other content in the future.

Mass Media: Coventry

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent steps his Department has taken to increase the level of media literacy in Coventry; and how much funding his Department has allocated to Coventry for that purpose since 2005.

Margaret Hodge: My Department does not directly allocate funding to specific regions for the purpose of increasing the level of media literacy. However, the Government and Ofcom have worked with media industry bodies, educational organisations and third sector groups on a range of initiatives to improve media literacy and digital participation across the UK. The Government are also considering a range of educational initiatives to improve the media literacy skills of children and parents in England and Wales.
	Since 2005 my Department has provided grant in aid of £559,000 a year to support Ofcom's media literacy work programme. As part of the 2009-10 programme the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education was given support for its Adult Learners' Week. This project included events in Coventry such as internet for beginners' sessions organised by Coventry Central Library and ancestry sessions at Coventry's Canley Community Library.

National Gallery: Pay

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many members of the board of the National Gallery receive  (a) remuneration and  (b) expenses only.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The National Gallery is an exempt charity, governed by the Museums and Galleries Act 1992. As charity trustees, none receive remuneration but all are entitled to reclaim reasonable expenses.

Olympic Games: Canada

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether he met the Snowsport GB team before its departure for the Winter Olympics.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport did not meet with the Snowsport GB team before its departure to the Winter Olympics.
	I, however, attended the launch of Team GB on 26 January.

Olympic Games: Canada

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his policy is on the funding of British teams to participate in Winter Olympics events.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport funds UK Sport to deliver sporting excellence, primarily at the Olympics and Paralympics.
	UK Sport allocates this funding based on the current performance and future potential of sports, via its successful no compromise investment strategy, which uses objective information to make funding awards that reflect each sport's relative ability to win medals on the world stage, whether at the Summer or Winter Olympics.

Snowsport GB

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with Snowsport GB on its finances; and when he first became aware of Snowsport GB's financial situation.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The chair of Snowsport GB wrote to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 14 December 2009, informing us of their recent financial difficulties.
	This followed a request in July 2009 for the Department to act as guarantor for a number of loans that Snowsport GB was seeking to raise from the private sector. Snowsport GB representatives discussed their situation and the way the organisation had been managed with DCMS and UK Sport officials on both occasions.

Snowsport GB

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether he has had recent discussions with  (a) the British Olympic Association and  (b) others on Snowsport GB.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have had no recent discussions with the British Olympic Association or others on Snowsport GB.
	Officials from my Department and UK Sport had contact with the British Olympic Association regarding contingency plans to support the participation of the ski and snowboard teams in the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

Swimming: Concessions

Hazel Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many of those aged  (a) under 16 and  (b) over 60 years old resident in Salford have participated in his Department's free swimming programmes.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The number of unique participants in the free swimming programme is not collected centrally. Local authorities are responsible for collecting data on the number of free swims that have taken place in their area each month.
	The table shows the total number of free swims that have taken place under the free swimming scheme by people aged 16 years and under, and people aged 60 and over, in the Salford local authority area between April 2009, when the scheme began, and December 2009.
	These data were published on 5 February 2010:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Under 16 swims 73,907 
			 Over 60s swims 23,900 
			 Total 97,807

Tourism: Gloucestershire

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding his Department allocated to Gloucestershire for the purposes of tourism in each of the last 10 years.

Margaret Hodge: The information requested is not held centrally. south west RDA has the primary role in taking forward a regional tourism strategy, and in deciding on tourism investment that would affect Gloucestershire. The reported tourism investment of the south west regional development agency for 2008-09 across the entire region was £3 million.
	In partnership with the industry and the wider public sector, the DCMS has a clear and coherent policy framework for industry growth. This includes branding and marketing improvement led by VisitBritain; the National Tourism Skills Strategy; work across Britain to drive up product quality through accommodation grading schemes and the better co-ordination of public investment of over £350 million a year in tourism at national, regional and local levels.
	In addition, the overall level of public sector investment in tourism from local, regional and national sources is likely to exceed £2 billion in the current spending review period. The Government believe this public investment is a good and reasonable investment in support for the tourism and hospitality industry.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Boilers: Government Assistance

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what information his Department holds on the area of residence of people who have made enquiries about eligibility for assistance under his Department's boiler scrappage scheme.

Joan Ruddock: Calls to the Energy Saving Trust, who are delivering the boiler scrappage scheme, are diverted to the nearest regional office in most cases based on the caller's telephone number if a landline is used. An analysis of number of calls received on the subject of eligibility for the boiler scrappage scheme by location of the call centre would provide a broad indication of the callers' region.
	The applicant's address is required when an application is made. The Department intends to publish shortly details indicating the level of interest in the boiler scrappage scheme, and we would hope to present this information region by region.

Carbon Emissions

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he plans to take to implement a personal carbon incentive scheme; when the scheme will be introduced; and how it will operate.

Joan Ruddock: DECC's ambition to implement a scheme for a new personal carbon challenge with rewards and incentives for saving energy was set out in The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan.
	DECC is actively investigating how best to achieve this ambition. However, we are aware that there are existing schemes and proposals and are also looking to see how we can supplement them.

Chorley

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will set out, with statistical information as closely related to Chorley constituency as possible, the effect on that constituency of the policies of his Department since its inception.

Joan Ruddock: The Department of Energy and Climate Change and its predecessors have implemented a large number of policies to address energy security, emissions reductions, low carbon economic growth and fuel poverty. Some of the key achievements are set out as follows, along with information on the number of households assisted by the Warm Front scheme in Chorley constituency. It would be disproportionately costly to provide statistical information on all the impact of all the policies to the level of detail requested, but statistical information covering energy and climate change is available at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/statistics.aspx
	 Key achievements
	Total UK greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by about 12 per cent. compared with 1997.
	The UK is on track to cut emissions by nearly twice our Kyoto target (22 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2008-12 compared to the target of 12.5 per cent. set out under the Kyoto agreement).
	The Climate Change Act in 2008 set a target of at least 80 per cent. reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050. Our first three carbon budgets legally bind the UK to a cut in greenhouse gases of 34 per cent. by 2018-22 against a 1990 baseline. In 2009, the UK's Low Carbon Transition Plan set out the long-term vision for climate change and energy and showing how we will meet the carbon budgets set out in the Climate Change Act.
	In the same year, the Department published national policy statements on energy infrastructure which will lead to faster and fairer planning decisions and a diverse low carbon energy mix. An ambitious new framework for clean coal will also drive development of carbon capture and storage.
	The UK's energy market is the most competitive in the EU and has attracted over £97 billion of investment from 1997 to 2008 (at 2005 prices). The UK also has the greatest installed capacity of offshore wind in the world.
	Turning to household measures, since 2002, the carbon emissions reduction target (CERT) and its predecessors have helped over six million households with insulation measures with almost three million of these in a priority group of vulnerable households.
	Government will be providing more financial assistance to help people generate their own heat and electricity in low carbon ways, where appropriate, through 'clean energy cashback' schemes:
	Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) will be in place from April 2010. Payment for low carbon electricity produced by small-scale generators (including households) will be provided through the electricity supply companies to encourage the uptake of low carbon and renewable electricity generating technologies by households, businesses and communities.
	The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), scheduled for launch in April 2011, will provide households, communities and businesses with payment for getting their heat from renewable sources. The detailed design of the RHI is currently out for consultation.
	 Warm Front scheme: Chorley constituency
	DECC's Warm Front scheme provides grants for households on qualifying income and disability-related benefits to install a range of insulation and heating measures in their homes. Since 2000, the scheme has assisted 3,223 households in the Chorley constituency.

Departmental Accountancy

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether any written instructions have been provided to his Department's Accounting Officer in accordance with paragraph 5.5 of the Ministerial Code since his Department's inception.

Joan Ruddock: No such written instructions have been provided.

Departmental Billing

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the average length of time taken by his Department to pay invoices from  (a) small and medium-sized enterprises and  (b) all creditors in the last 12 months.

Joan Ruddock: DECC monitors its payment performance on the target of paying invoices within 10 days of receipt and this is included within the monthly management information reports. We do not however, differentiate between the size of each creditor as the same target applies to all. The latest available data is for December 2009, when 90.7 per cent. of invoices were paid within 10 days.

Departmental Consultants

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many consultants his Department employed in each year since its inception; and how many hours were worked by such consultants for his Department in each of the last 10 years.

Joan Ruddock: This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental E-mail

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what procedures govern the manner in which his Department replies by email to email correspondence from  (a) hon. Members and  (b) members of the public.

Joan Ruddock: Until mid January, BIS and DEFRA handled all of DECC's correspondence in line with their respective departmental procedures, underpinned by Cabinet Office Guidance available at
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/propriety_and_ethics/handling_members_correspondence/guidance_for_departments/guidance/mps.aspx
	This general guidance recommends that e-mail correspondence is replied to in the same medium where possible, unless requested otherwise.
	Since 18 January the Department has handled its own correspondence. It continues to follow Cabinet Office guidance with a view to maximising e-communication where appropriate.

Departmental Information Officers

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many staff in his Department have the status of  (a) embedded communicators and  (b) are members of the Government Communications Network and are not listed in the Central Office of Information White Book.

Joan Ruddock: There are 11 embedded communicators in the Department. None of these are listed in the Central Office of Information White Book.
	Government Communications Network (GCN) membership data are not held by the Department. The Cabinet Office unit that administers the GCN is unable to share membership data without the permission of individual members, therefore it is not possible to readily provide accurate information on this without incurring a disproportionate cost.

Departmental Internet

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for which Google Adword online advertising keywords his Department and its agencies have paid in the last 12 months; and at what cost.

Joan Ruddock: Primarily as part of the Act on CO2 campaign, the Department has paid for Google keywords (search words) over the past year to enable people to find information about energy, climate change and carbon reduction actions, quickly and effectively by taking people through to the Act on CO2 website.
	The Google Adword system is like an auction and places advertisers in order of prominence according to how much they bid for a relevant keyword. It should be noted however that the actual cost the Department incurs is based on the number of clicks on the sponsored DECC link displayed.
	DECC has a specific account which contains keywords built around specific campaign-related themes such as loft insulation and the carbon calculator. There is also an account which is jointly funded with the Department for Transport, containing more generic keywords such as climate change and global warming and Act on CO2 (as this is the call to action for both Departments' campaigns).
	Other Government Departments and agencies such as the Energy Saving Trust sometimes bid for the same keywords as DECC. The amounts each Department pays can be capped, in order to minimise the risk of DECC and these Departments competing against each other for the same search keywords.
	The total spend on paid search for DECC over the last 12 months is £361,700 (exclusive of VAT). The total spend for the Energy Saving Trust over the last 12 months is £272,000 (exclusive of VAT).

Departmental Pay

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many  (a) year end and  (b) in-year bonuses have been paid to officials in his Department since it was established; and what expenditure his Department has incurred on such bonuses.

Joan Ruddock: The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) was created in October 2008. An element of the Department of Energy and Climate Change's overall pay award is allocated to non-consolidated variable pay related to performance. These payments are used to drive high performance and form part of the pay award for members of staff who demonstrate exceptional performance, for example by exceeding targets set or meeting challenging objectives.
	Non-consolidated variable pay awards are funded from within existing pay bill controls, and have to be re-earned each year against pre-determined targets and, as such, do not add to future pay bill costs. The percentage of the pay bill set aside for performance-related awards is based on recommendations from the independent senior salaries review body.
	
		
			   Number of staff  Total number of in year awards  Value of non- consolidated performance payments  from October 2008 to end  March 2009 (£)  Wages and salaries for the year 2008-09 (£)  Non - consolidated performance payments as percentage of wages and salaries 
			 2008-09 768 172 81,055 37,998,000 0.21 
		
	
	These figures do not include DECC end of year non consolidated performance payments as they were awarded after March 2009.

Electricity: Nottingham

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much electricity was supplied to the City of Nottingham from the national grid in each of the last 10 years.

David Kidney: Annual electricity consumption statistics for the Nottingham city council area are only available for the years 2003 to 2008 and are shown in the following table. The statistics include both domestic and non-domestic consumption.
	
		
			   Electricity consumption in Nottingham (GWh) 
			 2003 1,342.4 
			 2004 1,481.7 
			 2005 1,583.0 
			 2006 1,530.4 
			 2007 1,459.0 
			 2008 1,428.3 
		
	
	There are methodological differences in the production of the datasets before 2005 and therefore the data for 2003 and 2004 are not directly comparable. The changes in methodology were recognised as improvements and as such the statistics from 2005 are classified as National Statistics. Details of all methodologies used to compile the statistics can be found at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/regional/regional.aspx

Energy: Conservation

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many households in Hemsworth have received assistance under the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme since the inception of the scheme.

Joan Ruddock: The following table shows the number of households assisted by the Warm Front scheme in Hemsworth constituency since eaga became manager of the scheme in that region.
	
		
			  Assisted households 
			   Hemsworth 
			 2005-06 228 
			 2006-07 651 
			 2007-08 728 
			 2008-09 641 
			 2009-10(1) 454 
			 Total 2,702 
			 (1 )To 31 January 2010.  Note:  Prior to 2005 the scheme was managed by a different provider and the data retained by the current administrator are not sufficient to provide a consolidated response.

Energy: Housing

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the proportion of households in the priority group under  (a) phase one of the Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC),  (b) phase two of the EEC and  (c) the Carbon Emission Reduction Target programme which were in fuel poverty on the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

David Kidney: The latest figures available are for England in 2007. The following table shows number of priority group households in England for each phase of EEC and CERT and the proportion of these that are estimated to be in fuel poverty in 2007:
	
		
			   In priority groups  
			   EEC1( 1)  EEC2( 1)  CERT  All households 
			 Total number of households (thousand) 6,545 5,559 8,681 21,380 
			 Number of fuel poor households (thousand) 1,279 1,224 2,096 2,819 
			 Proportion of households that are fuel poor (percentage) 19.5 22.0 24.1 13.2 
			 (1) EEC1 and EEC2 figures are estimated. 
		
	
	Each of the policies covers GB, but fuel poverty statistics are a devolved responsibility.

Energy: Housing

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of fuel poor households which  (a) have received assistance in respect of his Department's provision for each energy saving measure under each of the first two phases of the Energy Efficiency Commitment and the Carbon Emission Reduction Target (CERT) programme in each year since 2002-03 and  (b) will receive assistance in respect of his Department's provision for each such measure under the extended CERT programme; and if he will make a statement.

David Kidney: The data requested are not available because the English Housing Survey, which is used to model fuel poverty, does not monitor individual households through time, rather it draws a representative sample each year. As such, it is not possible to identify individual households that have received assistance under these schemes, although the impact in aggregate of them will be captured in the fuel poverty statistics.
	Over 7 million households have benefited from insulation measures alone since 2002 through EEC and CERT. 40 per cent. of the carbon saving target is required to be achieved in a Priority Group of more vulnerable households on eligible benefits and aged 70 and over, so these schemes will have had a considerable impact in helping many households heat their homes for less. The CERT extension phase from April 2011 to December is proposed to be as ambitious as CERT.

Exhaust Emissions: Aviation

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the volume of carbon dioxide emissions arising from the aviation industry in the UK in each of the last five years.

Joan Ruddock: On 2 February 2010 DECC published final 2008 estimates of UK greenhouse gas emissions as National Statistics. 2008 is the latest year for which data are available.
	Two separate sectoral breakdowns are published each year: by source and by end-user. The former breakdown is based on the sector where the emissions actually occurred; the latter breakdown reallocates these same emissions in accordance with where the end-use actually occurred. This effectively reallocates emissions from energy supply to, for example, household and business energy usage.
	For aviation, emissions by source and end-users are very close to one another.
	By source, carbon dioxide emissions from domestic aviation over the period 2004-08 are shown in the following table. They are based on National Communications sectors, which are the basis for UK Government reporting. The 2008 end-user breakdown will be published on 25 March 2010.
	
		
			  Carbon dioxide emissions from domestic aviation: by source breakdown, 2004-08 
			  Million tonnes of CO 2 
			  NC category  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Aviation 2.3 2.5 2.4 2.3 2.2 
		
	
	Emissions from international aviation can be estimated from refuelling from bunkers at UK airports, whether by UK or non-UK operators. Under the reporting guidelines agreed by the UNFCCC, these emissions are not included in the UK's emissions total, but are reported as memo items in national greenhouse gas inventories. Parties to the UNFCCC are required to act to limit or reduce emissions from international services working through the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
	The following table provides CO2 emissions estimates for UK international aviation over the period 2004-08.
	
		
			  Carbon dioxide emissions from UK-based international aviation, by source: 2004-08 
			  Million tonnes of CO 2 
			  Memo item  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 International aviation bunkers 32.4 35.1 35.6 35.4 34.1 
		
	
	All the latest headlines results and data tables can be found on the DECC website at:
	http://decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/climate_change/gg_emissions/uk_emissions/2008_final/2008_final.aspx

Feltham

Alan Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Feltham and Heston constituency, the effects on that constituency of changes to his Department's policies since its inception.

Joan Ruddock: The Department of Energy and Climate Change and its predecessors have implemented a large number of policies to address energy security, emissions reductions, low carbon economic growth and fuel poverty. Some of the key achievements are set out as follows, along with information on the number of households assisted by the Warm Front scheme in Feltham and Heston constituency. It would be disproportionately costly to provide statistical information on all the impacts of all the policies to the level of detail requested, but statistical information covering energy and climate change is available at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/statistics.aspx
	 Key achievements
	Total UK greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by about 12 per cent. compared with 1997.
	The UK is on track to cut emissions by nearly twice our Kyoto target (22 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2008-12 compared to the target of 12.5 per cent. set out under the Kyoto agreement).
	The Climate Change Act in 2008 set a target of at least 80 per cent. reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050. Our first three carbon budgets legally bind the UK to a cut in greenhouse gases of 34 per cent. by 2018-22 against a 1990 baseline. In 2009, the UK's Low Carbon Transition Plan set out the long-term vision for climate change and energy and showing how we will meet the carbon budgets set out in the Climate Change Act.
	In the same year, my Department published National Policy Statements on energy infrastructure which will lead to faster and fairer planning decisions and a diverse low carbon energy mix. An ambitious new framework for clean coal will also drive development of carbon capture and storage.
	The UK's energy market is the most competitive in the EU and has attracted over £97 billion of investment from 1997 to 2008 (at 2005 prices). The UK also has the greatest installed capacity of offshore wind in the world.
	Turning to household measures, since 2002, the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) and its predecessors have helped over 6 million households with insulation measures with almost 3 million of these in a priority group of vulnerable households.
	Government will be providing more financial assistance to help people generate their own heat and electricity in low carbon ways, where appropriate, through 'clean energy cashback' schemes:
	Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) will be in place from April 2010. Payment for low carbon electricity produced by small-scale generators (including households), will be provided through the electricity supply companies to encourage the uptake of low carbon and renewable electricity generating technologies by households, businesses and communities.
	The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), scheduled for launch in April 2011, will provide households, communities and businesses with payment for getting their heat from renewable sources. The detailed design of the RHI is currently out for consultation.
	 Warm Front scheme: Feltham and Heston constituency
	DECC's Warm Front scheme provides grants for households on qualifying income and disability related benefits to install a range of insulation and heating measures in their homes. Since 2000 the scheme has assisted 2,156 households in the Feltham and Heston constituency.

Fuel Poverty: Salford

Hazel Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to reduce the level of fuel poverty in Salford.

David Kidney: The Government have a strong package of measures to help reduce fuel poverty among vulnerable households. This is centred on tackling the three root causes of fuel poverty:
	Reducing the demand for energy by improving home energy efficiency through schemes such as Warm Front, Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT), Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) and the Decent Homes Standard. Between 2005 and 2010 (to 31 January) Warm Front delivered nearly £2.5 million worth of energy efficiency measures to over 2,208 Salford households; CERT requires energy suppliers to meet at least 40 per cent. of their obligation by promoting and installing measures in the homes of a Priority Group of vulnerable consumers in receipt of qualifying benefits or people aged over 70 years. Measures are only reported at a GB level and details for the work carried out in Salford are therefore not available.
	Putting in place and continuously looking to improve a regulatory framework that promotes competition as the main driver to ensure downward pressure on prices for consumers, and to improve licence conditions and strengthen Ofgem's powers through the Energy Bill; and
	Raising real incomes, including through Winter Fuel Payments and Cold Weather Payments alongside the wider tax and benefit system and through Benefit Entitlement Checks under the Warm Front Scheme. 386 such checks have been undertaken in Salford by Warm Front between 2005 and 2010 (to 31 January), identifying an average weekly increase in income of £35.32 for those entitled to additional benefits.
	We have also introduced legislation to implement mandated social price support schemes once the current voluntary agreement with suppliers comes to an end in 2011. These schemes will provide more of the most vulnerable consumers with help towards their energy costs. We have said that we are minded to focus the majority of the additional resources on older pensioner households on the lowest incomes as these households tend to have a high incidence of fuel poverty-over 50 per cent. of fuel poor households have a person over 60 living in them; their circumstances are relatively stable; and they are at the greatest risk of excess winter deaths.
	The fuel poverty review which was announced in January 2009, has been looking across all three drivers of fuel poverty, and particularly the key issue of how we can more effectively identify and target assistance at the most vulnerable households.

Hotels

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many separate bookings for stays at five star or above hotels were made through the Expotel contract by his Department in the last year for which figures are available; and at what cost.

Joan Ruddock: None.

Housing: Insulation

Alan Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many households in Feltham and Heston constituency have received assistance under the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme since the inception of the scheme.

David Kidney: The following table shows how many households in Feltham and Heston have received assistance under the Warm Front scheme since the inception of the scheme.
	
		
			  Feltham and Heston  Number 
			 2000-01 86 
			 2001-02 181 
			 2002-03 127 
			 2003-04 117 
			 2004-05 284 
			 2005-06 159 
			 2006-07 255 
			 2007-08 289 
			 2008-09 337 
			 2009-10(1) 321 
			 Total 2,156 
			 (1) To 31 January

Industrial Diseases: Compensation

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department has paid to the legal firm Nabarro for handling issues related to compensation to miners for  (a) chest diseases,  (b) vibration white finger and  (c) miners' knee.

David Kidney: The amount of legal fees the Department has paid to Nabarro for handling compensation to miners in respect of the British Coal Respiratory Disease Litigation (BCRDL), Vibration White Finger Handling Arrangements (VWF) and for Miners Knee Group Litigation as at 10 February 2010 is shown as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 BCRDL 9,949,537.11 
			 VWF 3,447,411.36 
			 Knee litigation 5,710,185.20 
		
	
	These figures are exclusive of VAT and disbursements.
	BCRDL fees include representation in the largest personal injury action in the UK over a 12 year period and the VWF fees cover an 11 year period. The Miners Knee Litigation fees cover a period from 2003-04 to date and primarily relate to the Department's obligations for document disclosure.
	For the BCRDL and VWF the figures do not include the costs of defending individual court actions.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his Department's most recent assessment is of the accuracy of reports issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Joan Ruddock: We consider that the IPCC's Assessment Reports provide the most authoritative and comprehensive assessment of climate-change science.
	Its procedures are robust and are designed to minimise error and ensure a balanced and accurate assessment of the science. However, recent events remind us that even robust processes are not immune to mistakes. Those reported recently are isolated cases out of the thousands of papers reviewed by the IPCC.
	The IPCC has proposed that a select group of distinguished external experts advise and guide the IPCC on how best to improve its procedures. A thorough review of the Principles Governing IPCC Work; the procedures for the preparation, review, acceptance, adoption, approval and publication of IPCC reports, is envisaged. The interim results of this review will be discussed at the upcoming session of the IPCC bureau in May 2010.
	The UK supports the IPCC in planning to learn from mistakes and strengthen its procedures to ensure that its processes are properly followed. We remain committed to the IPCC as the primary source of information on climate-change science.
	Recent errors have not changed the fundamental message that human induced climate change is happening and that we must act now to prevent the worst consequences.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to reply to the letter of 15 December 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Miss M. Granath.

David Kidney: I replied to my right hon. Friend on 28 January.

Milton Keynes

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will set out, with statistical information related as directly as possible to North East Milton Keynes constituency, the effects on Milton Keynes of the policies and actions of his Department and its predecessors since 1997.

Joan Ruddock: The Department of Energy and Climate Change and its predecessors have implemented a large number of policies to address energy security, emissions reductions, low carbon economic growth and fuel poverty since 1997. Following are some of the key achievements, along with information on the number of households assisted by the warm front scheme in North East Milton Keynes constituency. It would be disproportionately costly to provide statistical information on the impact of all the policies to the level of detail requested, but statistical information covering energy and climate change is available at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/statistics.aspx
	 Key achievements since 1997
	Total UK greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by about 12 per cent. compared with 1997.
	The UK is on track to cut emissions by nearly twice our Kyoto target (22 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2008-12 compared to the target of 12.5 per cent. set out under the Kyoto agreement).
	The Climate Change Act in 2008 set a target of at least 80 per cent. reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050. Our first three carbon budgets legally bind the UK to a cut in greenhouse gases of 34 per cent. by 2018-22 against a 1990 baseline. In 2009, the UK's Low Carbon Transition Plan set out the long-term vision for climate change and energy and shows how we will meet the carbon budgets set out in the Climate Change Act.
	In the same year, the Department published National Policy Statements on energy infrastructure which will lead to faster and fairer planning decisions and a diverse low carbon energy mix. An ambitious new framework for clean coal will also drive development of carbon capture and storage.
	The UK's energy market is the most competitive in the EU and has attracted over £97 billion of investment from 1997 to 2008 (at 2005 prices). The UK also has the greatest installed capacity of offshore wind in the world.
	Turning to household measures, since 2002, the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) and its predecessors have helped over 6 million households with insulation measures, with almost 3 million of these in a priority group of vulnerable households.
	Government will be providing more financial assistance to help people generate their own heat and electricity in low carbon ways, where appropriate, through clean energy cashback schemes:
	Feed-in tariffs (FITs) will be in place from April 2010. Payment for low carbon electricity produced by small-scale generators (including households) will be provided through the electricity supply companies to encourage the uptake of low carbon and renewable electricity generating technologies by households, businesses and communities.
	The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), scheduled for launch in April 2011, will provide households, communities and businesses with payment for getting their heat from renewable sources. The detailed design of the RHI is currently out for consultation.
	 Warm Front s cheme: North East Milton Keynes constituency
	DECC's Warm Front scheme provides grants for households on qualifying income and disability related benefits to install a range of insulation and heating measures in their homes. Since 2000 the scheme has assisted 1,230 households in the North East Milton Keynes constituency.

Nuclear Installations: Security

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will authorise the director of the Office for Civil Nuclear Security within the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate to release a redacted version of the nuclear industries malicious capabilities planning assumptions.

David Kidney: The Nuclear Industries Malicious Capabilities (Planning) Assumptions is a protectively marked document produced by the Director of Civil Nuclear Security (DCNS) for use by the operators of civil licensed nuclear sites, approved carriers of nuclear material and other authorised persons. The purpose of the document is to set out the attributes and characteristics of those posing a threat to nuclear premises and to nuclear material so that an appropriate level of security can be put in place to protect against such malicious capabilities. This is a sensitive planning document underpinning security throughout the UK's civil nuclear industry and DCNS advises that it cannot be released, even in a redacted form, without significant risk to national security.

Nuclear Power Stations: Construction

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will place in the Library a copy of  (a) each leaflet and poster used to publicise each public consultation event held in the communities named as prospective sites for new nuclear build,  (b) the printout of any Powerpoint presentation shown,  (c) each DVD used and  (d) all speeches made by Ministers or departmental officials at each such event.

David Kidney: I have placed in the Library copies of  (a) leaflets and posters used to publicise the draft nuclear NPS consultation events. Copies of  (b) PowerPoint presentations and  (d) transcripts of the meetings which include the speeches made by departmental officials at these events, can be found online on the URLs
	https://www.energynpsconsultation.decc.gov.uk/nuclear/summary/
	https://www.energynpsconsultation.decc.gov.uk/home/events/localevents/
	No DVDs were produced for the consultation events on the draft nuclear NPS.

Offshore Industry: Taxation

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much the Government paid to  (a) the Isle of Man and  (b) Northern Ireland in respect of UK Continental Shelf receipts in (i) 2008 and (ii) 2009.

David Kidney: The following table shows how much the Government have paid to  (a) the Isle of Man and  (b) Northern Ireland in respect of a share of UK Continental Shelf receipts in FY 2007-08 and 2008-09:
	
		
			  Payments to Isle of Man and Northern Ireland 
			  £000 
			  Financial year  Isle of Man  Northern Ireland 
			 2007-08 0 1,539 
			 2008-09 0 1,340

Public Holidays

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of the introduction of an additional public holiday; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: No such estimate has been made.

Renewable Energy: Finance

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will publish the findings of his Department's research on Willingness to Pay, prepared in conjunction with the Energy Saving Trust; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the report of that research.

Joan Ruddock: The Energy Savings Trust will publish findings from the Willingness to Pay research early in March. The report will be available for download from the EST website and a copy will be placed in the House Library.

Slough

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will set out, with statistical information related as directly as possible to the Slough constituency, the effects on Slough of his Department's policies and actions since it was established.

Joan Ruddock: The Department of Energy and Climate Change and its predecessors have implemented a large number of policies to address energy security, emissions reductions, low carbon economic growth and fuel poverty. Following are set out some of the key achievements, along with information on the number of households assisted by the Warm Front scheme in Slough constituency. It would be disproportionately costly to provide statistical information on the impact of all the policies to the level of detail requested, but statistical information covering energy and climate change is available at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/statistics.aspx
	 Key achievements
	Total UK greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by about 12 per cent. compared with 1997.
	The UK is on track to cut emissions by nearly twice our Kyoto target (22 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2008-12 compared to the target of 12.5 per cent. set out under the Kyoto agreement).
	The Climate Change Act in 2008 set a target of at least 80 per cent. reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050. Our first three carbon budgets legally bind the UK to a cut in greenhouse gases of 34 per cent. by 2018-22 against a 1990 baseline. In 2009, the UK's Low Carbon Transition Plan set out the long-term vision for climate change and energy and shows how we will meet the carbon budgets set out in the Climate Change Act.
	In the same year, the Department published National Policy Statements on energy infrastructure which will lead to faster and fairer planning decisions and a diverse low carbon energy mix. An ambitious new framework for clean coal will also drive development of carbon capture and storage.
	The UK's energy market is the most competitive in the EU and has attracted over £97 billion of investment from 1997 to 2008 (at 2005 prices). The UK also has the greatest installed capacity of offshore wind in the world.
	Turning to household measures, since 2002, the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) and its predecessors have helped over 6 million households with insulation measures with almost 3 million of these in a priority group of vulnerable households.
	Government will be providing more financial assistance to help people generate their own heat and electricity in low carbon ways, where appropriate, through clean energy cashback schemes:
	Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) will be in place from April 2010. Payment for low carbon electricity produced by small-scale generators (including households), will be provided through the electricity supply companies to encourage the uptake of low carbon and renewable electricity generating technologies by households, businesses and communities.
	The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHT), scheduled for launch in April 2011, will provide households, communities and businesses with payment for getting their heat from renewable sources. The detailed design of the RHI is currently out for consultation.
	 Warm Front scheme: Slough constituency
	DECC's Warm Front scheme provides grants for households on qualifying income and disability related benefits to install a range of insulation and heating measures in their homes. Since 2000 the scheme has assisted 1,426 households in the Slough constituency.

Streatham

Keith Hill: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Streatham constituency, the effects on that constituency of changes to his Department's policies since its inception.

Joan Ruddock: The Department of Energy and Climate Change and its predecessors have implemented a large number of policies to address energy security, emissions reductions, low carbon economic growth and fuel poverty since 1997. Some of the key achievements are set out as follows, along with information on the number of households assisted by the Warm Front scheme in Streatham constituency. It would be disproportionately costly to provide statistical information on all the impact of all the policies to the level of detail requested, but statistical information covering energy and climate change is available at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/statistics.aspx
	 Key achievements since 1997
	Total UK greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by about 12 per cent. compared with 1997.
	The UK is on track to cut emissions by nearly twice our Kyoto target (22 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2008-12 compared to the target of 12.5 per cent. set out under the Kyoto agreement).
	The Climate Change Act in 2008 set a target of at least 80 per cent. reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050. Our first three carbon budgets legally bind the UK to a cut in greenhouse gases of 34 per cent. by 2018-22 against a 1990 baseline. In 2009, the UK's Low Carbon Transition Plan set out the long-term vision for climate change and energy and showing how we will meet the carbon budgets set out in the Climate Change Act.
	In the same year, the Department published National Policy Statements on energy infrastructure which will lead to faster and fairer planning decisions and a diverse low carbon energy mix. An ambitious new framework for clean coal will also drive development of carbon capture and storage.
	The UK's energy market is the most competitive in the EU and has attracted over £97 billion of investment from 1997 to 2008 (at 2005 prices). The UK also has the greatest installed capacity of offshore wind in the world.
	Turning to household measures, since 2002, the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) and its predecessors have helped over 6 million households with insulation measures with almost 3 million of these in a priority group of vulnerable households.
	Government will be providing more financial assistance to help people generate their own heat and electricity in low carbon ways, where appropriate, through 'clean energy cashback' schemes:
	Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) will be in place from April 2010. Payment for low carbon electricity produced by small-scale generators (including households), will be provided through the electricity supply companies to encourage the uptake of low carbon and renewable electricity generating technologies by households, businesses and communities.
	The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), scheduled for launch in April 2011, will provide households, communities and businesses with payment for getting their heat from renewable sources. The detailed design of the RHI is currently out for consultation.
	 Warm Front scheme: Streatham constituency
	DECC's Warm Front scheme provides grants for households on qualifying income and disability related benefits to install a range of insulation and heating measures in their homes. Since 2000 the scheme has assisted 927 households in the Streatham constituency.

Thanet

Stephen Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will set out, with statistical information related as directly as possible to South Thanet constituency, the effects on South Thanet of the policies and actions of his Department and its predecessors since 2000.

Joan Ruddock: The Department of Energy and Climate Change and its predecessors have implemented a large number of policies to address energy security, emissions reductions, low carbon economic growth and fuel poverty since 2000. Some of the key achievements are set out as follows, along with information on the number of households assisted by the Warm Front scheme in South Thanet constituency. It would be disproportionately costly to provide statistical information on all the impact of all the policies to the level of detail requested, but statistical information covering energy and climate change is available at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/statistics.aspx
	 Key achievements
	Total UK greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by about 12 per cent. compared with 1997.
	The UK is on track to cut emissions by nearly twice our Kyoto target (22 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2008-12 compared to the target of 12.5 per cent. set out under the Kyoto agreement).
	The Climate Change Act in 2008 set a target of at least 80 per cent. reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050. Our first three carbon budgets legally bind the UK to a cut in greenhouse gases of 34 per cent. by 2018-22 against a 1990 baseline. In 2009, the UK's Low Carbon Transition Plan set out the long-term vision for climate change and energy and showing how we will meet the carbon budgets set out in the Climate Change Act.
	In the same year, the Department published National Policy Statements on energy infrastructure which will lead to faster and fairer planning decisions and a diverse low carbon energy mix. An ambitious new framework for clean coal will also drive development of carbon capture and storage.
	The UK's energy market is the most competitive in the EU and has attracted over £97 billion of investment from 1997 to 2008 (at 2005 prices). The UK also has the greatest installed capacity of offshore wind in the world.
	Turning to household measures, since 2002, the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) and its predecessors have helped over 6 million households with insulation measures with almost 3 million of these in a priority group of vulnerable households.
	Government will be providing more financial assistance to help people generate their own heat and electricity in low carbon ways, where appropriate, through 'clean energy cashback' schemes:
	Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) will be in place from April 2010. Payment for low carbon electricity produced by small-scale generators (including households), will be provided through the electricity supply companies to encourage the uptake of low carbon and renewable electricity generating technologies by households, businesses and communities.
	The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), scheduled for launch in April 2011, will provide households, communities and businesses with payment for getting their heat from renewable sources. The detailed design of the RHI is currently out for consultation.
	 Warm Front scheme: South Thanet constituency
	DECC's Warm Front scheme provides grants for households on qualifying income and disability related benefits to install a range of insulation and heating measures in their homes. Since 2000 the scheme has assisted 2,067 households in the South Thanet constituency.

Totnes Transition Town Group

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much funding his Department has provided to Totnes Transition Town Group; over what period this funding is being provided; for what purpose the funding is being provided; and how the effectiveness of the funding will be evaluated.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 28 January 2010
	Totnes Transition Group are being awarded £625,000 of funding, the benefits of which will be delivered mainly in FY 2009-10 and some in FY 2010-11. Totnes Transition Group are receiving this funding as they have been selected to take part in the low carbon communities challenge which is a £10 million Government research project for communities to improve energy efficiency and tackle the wider issue of climate change.
	The monitoring and evaluation plan, managed by DECC, has been designed to capture evidence of project impacts and promote community dialogue and shared learning. The primary objective of this is to help inform and shape our policy in relation to the role of communities in delivering the transition to a low carbon economy and share our learning across the UK that will inspire and guide further community-led initiatives.
	The evaluation strands consist of the installation of real time displays, survey of households, case studies, co-inquiry and shared learning.

Vauxhall

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Vauxhall constituency, the effects on the constituency of changes to his Department's policies since 1997.

Joan Ruddock: The Department of Energy and Climate Change and its predecessors have implemented a large number of policies to address energy security, emissions reductions, low carbon economic growth and fuel poverty since 1997. Some of the key achievements are set out as follows, along with information on the number of households assisted by the Warm Front scheme in Vauxhall constituency. It would be disproportionately costly to provide statistical information on all the impact of all the policies to the level of detail requested, but statistical information covering energy and climate change is available at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/statistics.aspx
	 Key achievements since 1997
	Total UK greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by about 12 per cent. compared with 1997.
	The UK is on track to cut emissions by nearly twice our Kyoto target (22 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2008-12 compared to the target of 12.5 per cent. set out under the Kyoto agreement).
	The Climate Change Act in 2008 set a target of at least 80 per cent. reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050. Our first three carbon budgets legally bind the UK to a cut in greenhouse gases of 34 per cent. by 2018-22 against a 1990 baseline. In 2009, the UK's Low Carbon Transition Plan set out the long-term vision for climate change and energy and showing how we will meet the carbon budgets set out in the Climate Change Act.
	In the same year, the Department published National Policy Statements on energy infrastructure which will lead to faster and fairer planning decisions and a diverse low carbon energy mix. An ambitious new framework for clean coal will also drive development of carbon capture and storage.
	The UK's energy market is the most competitive in the EU and has attracted over £97 billion of investment from 1997 to 2008 (at 2005 prices). The UK also has the greatest installed capacity of offshore wind in the world.
	Turning to household measures, since 2002, the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) and its predecessors have helped over 6 million households with insulation measures with almost 3 million of these in a priority group of vulnerable households.
	Government will be providing more financial assistance to help people generate their own heat and electricity in low carbon ways, where appropriate, through 'clean energy cashback' schemes:
	Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) will be in place from April 2010. Payment for low carbon electricity produced by small-scale generators (including households), will be provided through the electricity supply companies to encourage the uptake of low carbon and renewable electricity generating technologies by households, businesses and communities.
	The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), scheduled for launch in April 2011, will provide households, communities and businesses with payment for getting their heat from renewable sources. The detailed design of the RHI is currently out for consultation.
	 Warm Front scheme: Vauxhall constituency
	DECC's Warm Front scheme provides grants for households on qualifying income and disability related benefits to install a range of insulation and heating measures in their homes. Since 2000 the scheme has assisted 1,190 households in the Vauxhall constituency.

Warm Front Scheme

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what mechanisms have been put in place to ensure that quotations from Warm Front contractors match those in the private sector.

David Kidney: In 2008 an independent audit carried out by the Warm Front scheme's quality assessors, White Young Green, confirmed that the Warm Front pricing structures in place at that time provided good value for money when compared with the wider market. This was supported by the National Audit Office report into the scheme published in 2009.
	Following a renegotiation of the scheme manager contract aimed at improving the quality of service for Warm Front customers a number of changes were made to the Warm Front contract in July 2009.
	As part of this, under the new arrangements up to 35 per cent. of work will be allocated to appointed installers at a new, competitively derived, set price. For the remaining 65 per cent. of work, Warm Front registered installers operating will be able to bid via an electronic auction to establish the lowest price. This will include all cases where a customer contribution would be required under the fixed prices. Where a customer contribution is required, individual households will be free to choose between the three lowest bidders and to help them decide will have access to the installer's performance rating.
	This new system is in the process of being rolled out across England, with full coverage expected to be in place by 1 May 2010.
	The effectiveness of all Warm Front pricing and cost processes continue to be subject to regular review by the Department and the independent audits by White Young Green.

Warm Front Scheme

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of back boilers which have been replaced under the Warm Front scheme in  (a) Mid Bedfordshire constituency,  (b) Bedfordshire,  (c) the East of England and  (d) England in each year since its inception.

David Kidney: The following table shows the total number of boilers replaced by the Warm Front Scheme in  (a) Mid Bedfordshire constituency,  (b) Bedfordshire,  (c) the East of England and  (d) England in each year since the current phase of the scheme began in 2005, but does not differentiate between back boilers and other type of boiler replaced under Warm Front. Details on types of boiler being replaced are not recorded.
	
		
			  Boilers installed  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10( 1) 
			 Mid Bedfordshire 3 18 68 99 78 
			 Bedfordshire 70 349 1,059 1,245 851 
			 East of England 711 2,946 6,330 7,976 7,309 
			 England 14,136 53,436 75,600 80,548 74,932 
			 (1) Up to 10 February 2010

Warm Front Scheme: Feltham

Alan Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many applications from residents of Feltham and Heston constituency to the Warm Front Scheme for  (a) heating,  (b) insulation and  (c) heating and insulation were approved in each of the last three years.

David Kidney: The following table shows the number applications where  (a) heating  (b) insulation and  (c) both heating and insulation measures were recommended in Felton and Heston in each of the last three years.
	
		
			  Measure received  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10( 1)  Total 
			 Insulation 62 122 83 267 
			 Heating 96 57 68 221 
			 Both 68 77 74 219 
			 (1) Up to 31 January 2010.  Note:  These figures may include those cases where a measure was recommended but not carried out. This may occur of variety of reasons, for instance, where the client chooses to have work carried out privately rather than wait for work to be carried out through the scheme.

Warm Front Scheme: Feltham

Alan Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much has been spent on the Warm Front programme in Feltham and Heston constituency in each year since its inception; and what other steps have been taken in that constituency to  (a) encourage greater energy efficiency measures and  (b) reduce the level of fuel poverty.

David Kidney: Table 1 shows the amount of Warm Front scheme funding spent in Feltham and Heston in each year since its inception.
	Table 2 shows the number of homes and amount of funding spent in Feltham and Heston by the Warm Front £300 rebate scheme (which provides assistance to households requiring boiler replacements or repairs for those over 60 and not receiving benefits which would give them access to the main Warm Front scheme) in each year since its inception.
	
		
			  Table 1: Warm Front spend 
			  Feltham and Heston  £ 
			 2001-02 17,569.35 
			 2002-03 83,686.17 
			 2003-04 101,036.17 
			 2004-05 247,734.90 
			 2005-06 194,810.70 
			 2006-07 202,014.09 
			 2007-08 313,567.20 
			 2008-09 260,248.41 
			 2009-10(1) 371,699.28 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Heating rebate scheme 
			   Vouchers issued  Funding (£) 
			 2006-07 1 315.46 
			 2007-08 66 20,449.32 
			 2008-09 76 22,985.52 
			 2009-10 83 22,414.84 
			 (1) To 7 February 2010. 
		
	
	The Government have a strong package of measures to help reduce fuel poverty among vulnerable households. This is centred on tackling the three root causes of fuel poverty:
	(i) Reducing the demand for energy by improving home energy efficiency is encouraged through schemes such the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT), the Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP), the Community Energy Efficiency Fund (CEEF) and the Decent Homes Standard, in addition to the Warm Front scheme which continues to be the Government's flagship scheme for tackling fuel poverty in the private household sector in England.
	CERT requires energy suppliers to meet at least 40 per cent. of their obligation by promoting and installing measures in the homes of a Priority Group of vulnerable consumers in receipt of qualifying benefits or people aged over 70 years. Measures are only reported at a GB level and details for the work carried out in Feltham and Heston are therefore not available.
	(ii) Putting in place and continuously looking to improve a regulatory framework that promotes competition as the main driver to ensure downward pressure on prices for consumers, and to improve licence conditions and strengthen Ofgem's powers through the Energy Bill; and
	(iii) Raising real incomes, including through winter fuel payments and cold weather payments alongside the wider tax and benefit system and through benefit entitlement checks under the Warm Front scheme.
	We have also introduced legislation to implement mandated social price support schemes once the current voluntary agreement with suppliers comes to an end in 2011. These schemes will provide more of the most vulnerable consumers with help towards their energy costs. We have said that we are minded to focus the majority of the additional resources on older pensioner households on the lowest incomes.
	As these households tend to have a high incidence of fuel poverty-over 50 per cent. of fuel poor households have a person over 60 living in them; their circumstances are relatively stable; and they are at the greatest risk of excess winter deaths.
	The fuel poverty review which was announced in January 2009, has been looking across all three drivers of fuel poverty, and particularly the key issue of how we can more effectively identify and target assistance at the most vulnerable households.

Wind Power

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has for the future generating capacity of UK wind farms.

David Kidney: The UK does not have specific targets for wind power generation. However, under the lead scenario in the Renewable Energy Strategy published last July, more than 30 per cent. of our electricity could be generated from renewables by 2020. Much of this generation would be from onshore and offshore wind.

Wind Power

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the  (a) consumable electrical output and  (b) proportion of the maximum potential output generated by wind turbines during the severe weather conditions in December 2009 and January 2010; and what estimate he has made of the cost per unit of generating electricity from (i) wind turbines and (ii) non-renewable sources during that period.

David Kidney: The latest official electricity output data are for November 2009, when major power producers supplied 740 GWh from wind generation. Electricity output data for December 2009 and January 2010 will be available on 25 February 2010 and 25 March 2010 respectively. As such, we are unable to provide an estimate of the cost per unit of generation by either wind or non-renewable sources in December and January.
	Load factors are defined as the average hourly quantity of electricity supplied during the year, expressed as a percentage of the average output capability at the beginning and end of the year. As such, these are only calculated on an annual basis, with the latest data for 2008 showing 29.4 per cent. for onshore wind and 34.9 per cent. for offshore wind.
	An indication of the load factors for December 2009 and January 2010 can be obtained by calculating total operational wind generation as a percentage of the theoretical maximum generation for all operationally metered wind plants. This data is made available by National Grid and only refers to wind which is operationally metered i.e. around half of the onshore wind farms and none of the offshore wind farms. Onshore wind farms generated 20.9 per cent. and 30.3 per cent. of maximum potential output in December and January respectively. Where this figure exceeds the load factor for onshore wind, given above, the plants covered by operational metering were operating at above average levels.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Better Off in Work Credit

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when she expects the Better Off in Work Credit to be available; what the monetary value will be of the weekly amount of credit provided; by what mechanisms payment of a claim will be triggered; how many people she estimates will be eligible for that credit; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: We will be implementing the enhanced Better off in Work Credit in one region from October 2010 as the first step towards a national roll-out. We expect the credit to be available nationally from January 2011. The Better off in Work Credit will ensure that everyone who has been unemployed for 26 weeks or more will have at least £40 a week more income on moving into work. The amount of the credit will vary from customer to customer and will be dependent on a comparison of the income an individual receives in work against the income they received from out of work benefits.
	During the Better off in Work Credit pilot that ran in Yorkshire and the Humber, customers made their applications at their local jobcentre in consultation with Jobcentre Plus staff. We will review this process to determine the most effective means of taking applications taking account of the lessons learned from the pilot before we roll out the next phase.
	Of those who move from benefits to work in each year, the vast majority are already better off in work. We expect only a small minority-up to around 100,000 a year to qualify for the enhanced Better off in Work Credit.

Blaydon

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if she will set out, with statistical information related as directly as possible to Blaydon constituency, the effect on that constituency of her Department's policies and actions since 2000.

Jonathan R Shaw: DWP lead the Government's response to some of the biggest issues facing the Country-welfare and pension reform-and are a key player in tackling child poverty. As the biggest delivery department in the UK, DWP makes a difference to millions of people every day, helping them to lead safer, fairer and more rewarding lives that are free from poverty. We want to give people more choice and control over their lives and are committed to providing greater choice and personalised support to everyone who needs it so they have the opportunity to get into and remain in work. We believe that work works. Even in economically challenging times we know that work works for the most vulnerable and the disadvantaged.
	 Support to find work
	Through Jobcentre Plus, we are promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age. Since 2000, although the number of people unemployed in Blaydon has increased by 45 per cent to 2,014, the number unemployed for more than one year has decreased by 28 per cent to 220. From May 2000 to May 2009 the number of lone parents claiming Income Support in Blaydon has decreased by 24 per cent to 860.
	Our New Deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, disabled people, the over 50s and partners of unemployed people to move from benefit into work. Since their inception over 2.2 million people in Great Britain have found work with the support of the New Deal, and 3,620 have been helped in Blaydon.
	 Support for children
	We introduced a target to halve child poverty by 2010-11 on the way to eradicating it by 2020. Poverty is measured using a headline indicator of the proportion of children in households with an income below 60 per cent of contemporary household median income before housing costs. This is in line with international best practice.
	Statistics on the numbers of children living in poverty are not available at the constituency level. But the latest information for the North East Government Office Region shows that the proportion of children in poverty has fallen from 32 per cent. in 2000 to 28 per cent.(1)
	 Support for older people
	Figures from 2000 relating to support for older people could be obtained at only disproportionate cost. However, figures are available from 1997 and these are shown as follows.
	Since 1997 our strategy has been to target help on the poorest pensioners while providing a solid foundation of support for all.
	This year we will be spending over £13 billion more on pensioners than if we had continued with policies that were in place in 1997. Around half of that money will go to the poorest third of pensioners.
	In 1997 the poorest pensioners, who received income support, lived on £69 a week (£98 in today's prices). Today pension credit, which was introduced in 2003, means no pensioner needs to live on less than £130 a week, £198.45 for couples. As of May 2009 6,140 pensioners in Blaydon are benefiting from pension credit.
	In 2007-08 there were 900,000 fewer pensioners living in relative poverty in UK compared to 1998-99 (measured as below 60 per cent. of contemporary median household income after housing costs).
	Statistics on the proportion of pensioners living in relative poverty are not available at the constituency level. But the latest data for the North East Government Office Region show that the number of pensioners in poverty in fell from 27 per cent. to 19 per cent. since 20002.
	Pensioners in the UK also benefit from a range of additional support such as the winter fuel payment which this winter is worth £250 for households aged between 60-79 and £400 for households aged 80 or over. These payments provide vital reassurance to older people that they can afford to turn up their heating during cold weather. Prior to winter 1997-98 less than £60 million was spent helping pensioners meet their fuel bills - this year the Government will be spending around £2.7 billion on winter fuel payments alone. In 2008-09 19,980 people aged 60 and over benefited from Winter fuel payments in Blaydon.
	We have also taken steps to strengthen and protect the private pensions system to ensure people can continue to have confidence to save for their future through the establishment of the Pensions Protection Fund, the Financial Assistance Scheme and a more powerful and proactive pensions regulator.
	The protection system ensures that, unlike in 1997, people aren't left without a pension even in the event that their employer becomes insolvent.
	In total 405 people in the North East Region are receiving compensation from the Pension Protection Fund (data not available at constituency level(3)).
	Regional information about assistance payments received by members from the Financial Assistance Scheme could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The Government have also taken forward a radical package of pension reforms in the Pensions Acts of 2007 and 2008 which will deliver a fairer and more generous state pension and extend the opportunity of workplace pension saving to millions, many for the first time.
	The state pension reforms begin to come into effect from 2010 and will mean around three quarters of women reaching State Pension age in 2010 are expected to qualify for a full basic State Pension compared to half without reform.
	 Support for disabled people and carers
	Since 2001, we have significantly extended and improved civil rights for disabled people in areas such as employment, education, access to goods and services and transport. Disabled people in Blaydon will have benefited from these improvements. The Welfare Reform Act 2009 contains powers to increase choice and control for disabled adults, including disabled parents who are entitled to state support, enabling them to choose how certain state support is used to meet their individual needs. This will be trail blazed in up to eight local authority areas from late 2010. Older and less well off carers have gained extra help through the provisions within the National Carers Strategy.
	(1) Based on three-year averages and figures are rounded to the nearest percentage point or 100,000 children between 2000-01 to 200-03 and 200-06 to 2007-08.
	(2) Based on three-year averages and changes are rounded to the nearest percentage point or 100,000 pensioners between 2000-01 to 2002-2003 and 2005-06 to 2007-08.
	(3) Regional information about assistance payments received by members from the Financial Assistance Scheme could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Chorley

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if she will set out, with statistical information as closely related to Chorley constituency as possible, the effect on that constituency of the policies of her Department and its predecessor since 1997.

Jonathan R Shaw: As the biggest delivery Department in the UK, DWP makes a difference to millions of people every day, helping them to lead safer, fairer and more rewarding lives that are free from poverty. The policies that we have introduced since 1997 have aimed to give people more choice and control over their lives. Through our welfare reform programme, we are committed to providing personalised support to everyone who needs it so they have the opportunity to get into and remain in work.
	 Support to find work
	Through Jobcentre Plus, we are promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age. Since 1997, although the number of people unemployed in Chorley has increased by 38 per cent. to 1,900, the number unemployed for more than one year has decreased by 23 per cent. to 170. From May 1997 to May 2009 the number of lone parents claiming Income Support in Chorley has decreased by 43 per cent. to 690.
	Our New Deal programmes have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, disabled people, the over 50s and partners of unemployed people to move from benefit into work. Since their inception over 2.2 million people in Great Britain have found work with the support of the New Deal, and 2,810 have been helped in Chorley.
	 Support for Children
	We introduced a target to halve child poverty by 2010-11 on the way to eradicating it by 2020. Poverty is measured using a headline indicator of the proportion of children in households with an income below 60 per cent. of contemporary household median income before housing costs. This is in line with international best practice.
	Statistics on the numbers of children living in poverty are not available at the constituency level, but the latest information for the North West shows that the proportion of children in poverty fell from 32 per cent. to 27 per cent. since 1997.
	 Support for older people
	Since 1997 our strategy has been to target extra help at the poorest pensioners while providing a solid foundation of support for all.
	This year we will spend over£13 billion more on pensioners than if we had continued with the policies that were in place in 1997. Around half of that money will go to the poorest third of pensioners.
	In 1997 the poorest pensioners, who received Income Support, lived on £69 a week (£98 in today's prices). Today Pension Credit, which was introduced in 2003, means no pensioner needs to live on less than £130 a week, £198.45 for couples. As of May 2009, 5,330 pensioners in Chorley are benefiting from Pension Credit. Statistics on the proportion of pensioners living in relative poverty are not available at the constituency level, but the latest information for the North West Government Office Region shows that the proportion of pensioners in poverty fell from 28 per cent. to 18 per cent. from 1997.
	Pensioners in the UK also benefit from a range of additional support such as the winter fuel payment which this winter is worth £250 for households aged between 60 and 79 and £400 for households aged 80 or over. These payments provide vital reassurance to older people that they can afford to turn up their heating during cold weather. Prior to winter 1997-98 less than £60 million was spent helping pensioners meet their fuel bills-this year we will be spending around £2.7 billion on winter fuel payments alone. In 2008-09 22,320 people aged 60 and over benefited from winter fuel payments in Chorley.
	We have also taken steps to strengthen and protect the private pensions system to ensure people can continue to have confidence to save for their future through the establishment of the Pensions Protection Fund, the Financial Assistance Scheme and a more powerful and proactive pensions regulator.
	The protection system ensures that, unlike in 1997, people are not left without a pension even in the event that their employer becomes insolvent.
	In total 1,965 people in the North West Government Office Region are receiving compensation from the Pension Protection Fund (data not available at constituency level).
	We have also taken forward a radical package of pension reforms in the Pensions Acts of 2007 and 2008 which will deliver a fairer and more generous state pension and extend the opportunity of workplace pension saving to millions, many for the first time.
	The state pension reforms begin to come into effect from 2010 and will mean around three quarters of women reaching state pension age in 2010 are expected to qualify for a full basic state pension compared to half without reform.
	 Support for disabled people and their carers
	Since 2001, we have significantly extended and improved civil rights for disabled people in areas such as employment, education, access to goods and services and transport. Disabled people in Chorley will have benefited from these improvements. The Welfare Reform Act 2009 contains powers to increase choice and control for disabled adults, including disabled parents, enabling them to choose how certain state support is used to meet their individual needs. Older and less well-off carers are receiving extra help through the provisions within the National Carers Strategy.

Cleethorpes

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if she will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Cleethorpes constituency, the effects on that constituency of her Department's policies since 1997.

Jonathan R Shaw: DWP lead the Government's response to some of the biggest issues facing the country-welfare and pension reform-and are a key player in tackling child poverty.(1) As the biggest delivery department in the UK, DWP makes a difference to millions of people every day, helping them to lead safer, fairer and more rewarding lives that are free from poverty. We want to give people more choice and control over their lives and are committed to providing greater choice and personalised support to everyone who needs it so they have the opportunity to get into and remain in work. We believe that work works. Even in economically challenging times we know that work works for the most vulnerable and the disadvantaged.
	 Support to find work
	Through Jobcentre Plus, we are promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age. Since 1997, the number of people unemployed in Cleethorpes has decreased by 5 per cent. to 2,655, and the number unemployed for more than one year has decreased by 54 per cent. to 295. From May 1997 to May 2009 the number of lone parents claiming income support in Cleethorpes has decreased by 25 per cent. to 980.
	Our new deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, disabled people, the over 50s and partners of unemployed people to move from benefit into work. Since their inception over 2.2 million people in Great Britain have found work with the support of the new deal, and 4,130 have been helped in Cleethorpes.
	 Support for children
	We introduced a target to halve child poverty by 2010-11 on the way to eradicating it by 2020. Poverty is measured using a headline indicator of the proportion of children in households with an income below 60 per cent. of contemporary household median income before housing costs. This is in line with international best practice.
	Statistics on the numbers of children living in poverty are not available at the constituency level. But the latest information for the Yorkshire and the Humber Government office region shows that the proportion of children in poverty has fallen from 32 per cent. in 1997 to 26 per cent.(2)
	 Support for older people
	Since 1997 our strategy has been to target help on the poorest pensioners while providing a solid foundation of support for all.
	This year we will be spending over £13 billion more on pensioners than if we had continued with the policies that were in place in 1997. Around half of that money will go to the poorest third of pensioners.
	In 1997 the poorest pensioners, who received income support, lived on £69 a week (£98 in today's prices). Today pension credit, which was introduced in 2003, means no pensioner needs to live on less than £130 a week, £198.45 for couples. As of May 2009 6,410 pensioners in Cleethorpes are benefiting from pension credit.
	In 2007-08 there were 900,000 fewer pensioners living in relative poverty in UK compared to 1998-99 (measured as below 60 per cent. of contemporary median household income after housing costs).
	Statistics on the numbers of pensioners living in relative poverty are not available at the constituency level. But the latest data for the Yorkshire and the Humber Government office region show that the number of pensioners in poverty has fallen from 32 per cent. in 1997 to 18 per cent.(3)
	Pensioners in the UK also benefit from a range of additional support such as the winter fuel payment which this winter is worth £250 for households aged between 60-79 and £400 for households aged 80 or over. These payments provide vital reassurance to older people that they can afford to turn up their heating during cold weather. Prior to winter 1997-98 less than £60 million was spent helping pensioners meet their fuel bills - this year we will be spending around £2.7 billion on winter fuel payments alone. In 2008-09 22,420 people aged 60 and over benefited from winter fuel payments in Cleethorpes.
	We have also taken steps to strengthen and protect the private pensions system to ensure people can continue to have confidence to save for their future through the establishment of the Pensions Protection Fund, the Financial Assistance Scheme and a more powerful and proactive pensions regulator.
	The protection system ensures that, unlike in 1997, people are not left without a pension even in the event that their employer becomes insolvent.
	In total 2296 people in the Yorkshire and Humber region are receiving compensation from the Pension Protection Fund (data not available at constituency level).(4)
	We have also taken forward a radical package of pension reforms in the Pensions Acts of 2007 and 2008 which will deliver a fairer and more generous state pension and extend the opportunity of workplace pension saving to millions, many for the first time.
	The state pension reforms begin to come into effect from 2010 and will mean around three quarters of women reaching state pension age in 2010 are expected to qualify for a full basic state pension compared to half without reform.
	 Support for disabled people and carers
	Since 2001, we have significantly extended and improved civil rights for disabled people in areas such as employment, education, access to goods and services and transport. Disabled people in Cleethorpes will have benefited from these improvements. The Welfare Reform Act 2009 contains powers to increase choice and control for disabled adults, including disabled parents who are entitled to state support, enabling them to choose how certain state support is used to meet their individual needs. This will be trail blazed in up to eight local authority areas from late 2010. Older and less well off carers have gained extra help through the provisions within the National Carers Strategy.
	(1) The Department for Work and Pensions was created in 2001 and so information relates to the department and its predecessors.
	(2) Based on three-year averages and changes are rounded to the nearest percentage point or 100,000 children between 1997-98 to 1999-2000 and 2005-06 to 2007-08.
	(3) Based on three-year averages and changes are rounded to the nearest percentage point or 100,000 pensioners between 1997-98 to 1999-2000 and 2005-06-2007-08.
	(4) Regional information about assistance payments received by members from the Financial Assistance Scheme could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Council Tax Benefits and Housing Benefit

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of her Department's expenditure on  (a) council tax benefit and  (b) housing benefit was paid to (i) tenants renting privately, (ii) tenants renting from a social landlord and (iii) homeowners in the latest period for which figures are available.

Helen Goodman: In 2007-08 it is estimated that 14 per cent. of council tax benefit expenditure was paid to private tenants, 58 per cent. to social tenants, and 28 per cent. to homeowners.
	In 2008-09 one third of housing benefit expenditure was paid to tenants renting privately, and two thirds to tenants in the social rented sector, including local authority tenants.
	 Sources:
	1. Housing benefit: Administrative and financial data from local authorities
	2. Council tax benefit: National Statistics estimates of benefit take-up for 2007-08; available 2008-09 data from local authorities does not distinguish by tenure type.

Employers' Liability

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when she plans to announce her decision on the feasibility of a compulsory database for recording details for employers' liability insurance policies.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Government published a consultation document 'Accessing Compensation-Supporting people who need to trace Employers' Liability Insurance' on 10 February 2010. This consultation document discusses the best way of setting up and administering such a compulsory database as well as consulting on an Employers' Liability Insurance Bureau. This would be a compensation fund of last resort and would ensure that more individuals who are unable to trace employers' liability insurance records would receive compensation.

Employment and Support Allowance: Medical Examinations

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what minimum professional qualification is required of those who carry out work capability assessments for her Department.

Jonathan R Shaw: Atos healthcare doctors must be fully registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) without current or previous restrictions, conditions or warnings and hold a licence to practice from the date the GMC issues licences. In addition they must have at least three years post full registration (GMC or EEA-European Economic Area equivalent) experience as a minimum. Alternatively for non-EU graduates, three years post full registration experience in the doctors native country is required. In individual cases, solely at the discretion of the Chief Medical Advisor (CMA), the requirements that no conditions or warnings be attached to registration and that the doctor must have a minimum of three years post registration experience, may be waived.
	Atos healthcare nurses must be fully registered (level 1) Registered General Nurses without current or previous restrictions or cautions with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. In addition they must have at least three years post full registration experience. In individual cases, solely at the discretion of the CMA, the requirements that no cautions be attached to registration and that the nurse must have a minimum of three years post registration experience, may be waived.
	Atos healthcare doctors and nurses are specifically trained to provide decision making authorities with independent, accurate and authoritative advice and reports on the effects of disability.
	The CMA approves Healthcare Professionals to carry out assessments. Approval is dependent on strict recruitment criteria, completion of a course of training in disability assessment medicine approved by the CMA and evidence of satisfactory performance.

Employment: Disabled

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2010,  Official Report, columns 257-58W, on employment: disabled, what estimate she has made of the  (a) number and  (b) proportion of disabled people employed (i) full-time and (ii) part-time in the (A) public and (B) private sector in each year since 1997.

Jonathan R Shaw: There are currently 5,819,000 people of working age who declare a disability that corresponds to the Disability Discrimination Act's definition of disability. Of these, 2,783,000 (47.8 per cent.) are in employment. This has increased from 1,975,000 (39.7 per cent.) for the comparable quarter in 1998. Over the same period, the gap between the employment rate for disabled people and the overall employment rate has narrowed from 34.4 to 25.1 percentage points.
	The information requested is in the tables.
	
		
			  Number of people with a Disability Discrimination Act disability in full and part-time employment in the public and private sector 
			   Private sector  Public sector 
			   Full-time  Part-time  Full-time  Part-time 
			 1998 1,062,000 421,000 323,000 153,000 
			 1999 1,216,000 463,000 340,000 164,000 
			 2000 1,240,000 482,000 364,000 172,000 
			 2001 1,294,000 474,000 383,000 192,000 
			 2002 1,367,000 510,000 418,000 212,000 
			 2003 1,377,000 532,000 432,000 206,000 
			 2004 1,465,000 565,000 457,000 228,000 
			 2005 1,433,000 518,000 464,000 233,000 
			 2006 1,469,000 593,000 476,000 242,000 
			 2007 1,492,000 592,000 483,000 247,000 
			 2008 1,496,000 582,000 491,000 244,000 
			 2009 1,413,000 582,000 529,000 237,000 
			  Note: The figures given do not add up to 2,783,000 because a small number of cases have missing values for either the full-time/part-time or the private sector/public sector variables.  Source: Labour Force Survey, quarter 3, 1998 to 2009. 
		
	
	
		
			  Proportion of working age people with a Disability Discrimination Act disability in full and part-time employment in the public and private sector as a percentage 
			   Private sector  Public sector 
			   Full-time  Part-time  Full-time  Part-time 
			 1998 21 8 6 3 
			 1999 23 9 7 3 
			 2000 23 9 7 3 
			 2001 23 9 7 3 
			 2002 24 9 7 4 
			 2003 25 9 8 4 
			 2004 25 10 8 4 
			 2005 25 9 8 4 
			 2006 25 10 8 4 
			 2007 26 10 8 4 
			 2008 25 10 8 4 
			 2009 24 10 9 4 
			  Note: Percentages do not add up to 100 per cent. because a small number of cases have missing values for either the full-time/part-time or the private sector/public sector variables.  Source: Labour Force Survey, quarter 3, 1998 to 2009. 
		
	
	
		
			  Proportion of  employed  people with a Disability Discrimination Act disability in full and part-time employment in the public and private sector as a percentage 
			   Private sector  Public sector 
			   Full-time  Part-time  Full-time  Part-time 
			 1998 54 21 16 8 
			 1999 56 21 16 8 
			 2000 55 21 16 8 
			 2001 55 20 16 8 
			 2002 55 20 17 8 
			 2003 54 21 17 8 
			 2004 54 21 17 8 
			 2005 54 20 18 9 
			 2006 53 21 17 9 
			 2007 53 21 17 9 
			 2008 53 21 17 9 
			 2009 51 21 19 9 
			  Note: Percentages do not add up to 100 per cent. because a small number of cases have missing values for either the full-time/part-time or the private sector/public sector variables.  Source: Labour Force Survey, quarter 3, 1998 to 2009.

European Regional Development Fund

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much employment-related funding she expects each region to receive from the European Regional Development Programmes on a per capita basis in the period 2007 to 2013; and what information her Department holds on the distribution of such funds on a per capita basis to other EU member States in that period for benchmarking purposes.

Rosie Winterton: I have been asked to reply.
	As a general rule, employment-related measures are supported through the European Social Fund (ESF), although a small amount of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) programmes may also be spent on employment-related measures. However, figures for ERDF employment-related measures for the regions and counties of the UK and the other member states are not readily available and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.
	ERDF expenditure is focused on research, innovation, business development, environmental protection and infrastructure investment.

Feltham

Alan Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if she will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Feltham and Heston constituency, the effects on that constituency of changes to her Department's policies since 1997.

Jonathan R Shaw: DWP lead the Government's response to some of the biggest issues facing the country-welfare and pension reform-and are a key player in tackling child poverty(1). As the biggest delivery Department in the UK, DWP makes a difference to millions of people every day, helping them to lead safer, fairer and more rewarding lives that are free from poverty. We want to give people more choice and control over their lives and are committed to providing greater choice and personalised support to everyone who needs it so they have the opportunity to get into and remain in work. We believe that work works. Even in economically challenging times we know that work works for the most vulnerable and the disadvantaged.
	 Support to find work
	Through Jobcentre Plus, we are promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age. Since 1997, although the number of people unemployed in Feltham and Heston has increased by 32 per cent. to 2,832, the number unemployed for more than one year has decreased by 86 per cent. to 75. From May 1997 to May 2009 the number of lone parents claiming income support in Feltham and Heston has decreased by 23 per cent. to 2,230.
	Our New Deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, disabled people, the over 50s and partners of unemployed people to move from benefit into work. Since their inception over 2.2 million people in Great Britain have found work with the support of the New Deal, and 3,730 have been helped in Feltham and Heston.
	 Support for children
	We introduced a target to halve child poverty by 2010-11 on the way to eradicating it by 2020. Poverty is measured using a headline indicator of the proportion of children in households with an income below 60 per cent. of contemporary household median income before housing costs. This is in line with international best practice.
	Statistics on the numbers of children living in poverty are not available at the constituency level, but the latest information for the outer London area shows that the proportion of children in poverty is the same now, at 20 per cent. as it was in 1997.(2)
	 Support for older people
	Since 1997 our strategy has been to target help on the poorest pensioners while providing a solid foundation of support for all.
	This year we will be spending over£13 billion more on pensioners than if we had continued with the policies that were in place in 1997. Around half of that money will go to the poorest third of pensioners.
	In 1997 the poorest pensioners, who received income support, lived on £69 a week (£98 in today's prices). Today pension credit, which was introduced in 2003, means no pensioner needs to live on less than £130 a week, £198.45 for couples. As of May 2009, 5,180 pensioners in Feltham and Heston are benefiting from pension credit.
	In 2007-08 there were 900,000 fewer pensioners living in relative poverty in UK compared to 1998-99 (measured as below 60 per cent. of contemporary median household income after housing costs).
	Statistics on the proportion of pensioners living in relative poverty are not available at the constituency level. But the latest data for the outer London area Government office region show that the number of pensioners in poverty (measured as below 60 per cent. of contemporary median household income after housing costs) fell from 26 per cent. to 19 per cent. since 1997(3).
	Pensioners in the UK also benefit from a range of additional support such as the winter fuel payment which this winter is worth £250 for households with someone aged between 60-79 and £400 for households with someone aged 80 or over. These payments provide vital reassurance to older people that they can afford to turn up their heating during cold weather. Prior to winter 1997-98 less than £60 million was spent helping pensioners meet their fuel bills-this year we will be spending around £2.7 billion on winter fuel payments alone. In 2008-09, 15,490 people aged 60 and over benefited from winter fuel payments in Feltham and Heston.
	We have also taken steps to strengthen and protect the private pensions system to ensure people can continue to have confidence to save for their future through the establishment of the Pensions Protection Fund, the Financial Assistance Scheme and a more powerful and proactive pensions regulator.
	The protection system ensures that, unlike in 1997, people aren't left without a pension even in the event that their employer becomes insolvent.
	In total 473 people in the London region are receiving compensation from the Pension Protection Fund (data not available at constituency level).(4)
	We have also taken forward a radical package of pension reforms in the Pensions Acts of 2007 and 2008 which will deliver a fairer and more generous state pension and extend the opportunity of workplace pension saving to millions, many for the first time.
	The state pension reforms begin to come into effect from 2010 and will mean around three quarters of women reaching state pension age in 2010 are expected to qualify for a full basic state pension compared to half without reform.
	 Support for disabled people and carers
	Since 2001, we have significantly extended and improved civil rights for disabled people in areas such as employment, education, access to goods and services and transport. Disabled people in Feltham and Heston will have benefited from these improvements. The Welfare Reform Act 2009 contains powers to increase choice and control for disabled adults, including disabled parents who are entitled to state support, enabling them to choose how certain state support is used to meet their individual needs. This will be trailblazed in up to eight local authority areas from late 2010. Older and less well off carers have gained extra help through the provisions within the National Carers Strategy.
	(1) The Department for Work and Pensions was created in 2001 and so information relates to the Department and its predecessors.
	(2) Based on three-year averages, and changes are rounded to the nearest percentage point or 100,000 children between 1997-98 to 1999-2000 and 2005-06 to 2007-08.
	(3 )Based on three-year averages, and changes are rounded to the nearest percentage point or 100,000 pensioners between 1997-98 to 1999-2000 and 2005-06 to 2007-08.
	(4) Regional information about assistance payments received by members from the Financial Assistance Scheme could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Future Jobs Fund

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which local authorities have taken on more staff under the Future Jobs Fund; how many such staff have been employed by each such local authority; and how many such staff each local authority plans to employ in the next three years.

Jim Knight: We cannot comment publicly on job starts ahead of publication of the confirmed official statistical data, which is due in spring 2010. It is not possible to estimate how many staff each local authority plans to employ in the next three years as this is not information we require as part of the Future Jobs Fund bid process.

Future Jobs Fund

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance her Department provides to local authorities on the role of social enterprises in the Future Jobs Fund.

Jim Knight: The future jobs fund provides an excellent opportunity for social enterprises and the third sector to create jobs for young people, and this is reflected in the guidance available on the website available to all potential bidders. While my Department does not provide specific guidance to local authorities on the role of social enterprises in the future jobs fund, there are many examples of authorities working closely with social enterprises to create new jobs.

Hemsworth

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if she will set out, with statistical information related as directly as possible to Hemsworth constituency, the effects on Hemsworth of her Department's policies and actions since 2000.

Jonathan R Shaw: DWP lead the Government's response to some of the biggest issues facing the country-welfare and pension reform-and are a key player in tackling child poverty(1). As the biggest delivery Department in the UK, DWP makes a difference to millions of people every day, helping them to lead safer, fairer and more rewarding lives that are free from poverty. We want to give people more choice and control over their lives and are committed to providing greater choice and personalised support to everyone who needs it so they have the opportunity to get into and remain in work. We believe that work works. Even in economically challenging times we know that work works for the most vulnerable and the disadvantaged.
	 Support to find work
	Through Jobcentre Plus, we are promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age. Since 2000, although the number of people unemployed in Hemsworth has increased by 42 per cent. to 2,164, the number unemployed for more than one year has decreased by 10 per cent. to 220. From May 2000 to May 2009 the number of lone parents claiming income support in Hemsworth has decreased by 29 per cent. to 1,130.
	Our New Deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, disabled people, the over 50s and partners of unemployed people to move from benefit into work. Since their inception over 2.2 million people in Great Britain have found work with the support of the New Deal, and 3,420 have been helped in Hemsworth.
	 Support for children
	We introduced a target to halve child poverty by 2010-11 on the way to eradicating it by 2020. Poverty is measured using a headline indicator of the proportion of children in households with an income below 60 per cent. of contemporary household median income before housing costs. This is in line with international best practice.
	Statistics on the numbers of children living in poverty are not available at the constituency level, but the latest information for the Yorkshire and Humber area shows that the proportion of children in poverty fell from 27 per cent. to 26 per cent. since 2000.
	 Support for older people
	Figures from 2000 relating to support for older people could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, figures are available from 1997 and these are as follows.
	Since 1997 our strategy has been to target help on the poorest pensioners while providing a solid foundation of support for all.
	This year we will be spending over£13 billion more on pensioners than if we had continued with the policies that were in place in 1997. Around half of that money will go to the poorest third of pensioners.
	In 1997 the poorest pensioners, who received income support, lived on £69 a week (£98 in today's prices). Today pension credit, which was introduced in 2003, means no pensioner needs to live on less than £130 a week, £198.45 for couples. As of May 2009 5,760 pensioners in Hemsworth are benefiting from pension credit.
	In 2007-08 there were 900,000 fewer pensioners living in relative poverty in UK compared to 1998-99 (measured as below 60 per cent. of contemporary median household income after housing costs).
	Statistics on the proportion of pensioners living in relative poverty are not available at the constituency level. But the latest data for the Yorkshire and Humber Government office region show that the number of pensioners in poverty has fallen from 26 per cent. in 2000 to 18 per cent(2).
	Pensioners in the UK also benefit from a range of additional support such as the winter fuel payment which this winter is worth £250 for households with someone aged between 60-79 and £400 for households with someone aged 80 or over. These payments provide vital reassurance to older people so that they can afford to turn up their heating during cold weather. Prior to winter 1997-98 less than £60 million was spent helping pensioners meet their fuel bills-this year we will be spending around £2.7 billion on winter fuel payments alone. In 2008-09 19,740 people aged 60 and over benefited from winter fuel payments in Hemsworth.
	We have also taken steps to strengthen and protect the private pensions system to ensure people can continue to have confidence to save for their future through the establishment of the Pensions Protection Fund, the Financial Assistance Scheme and a more powerful and proactive pensions regulator.
	The protection system ensures that, unlike in 1997, people are not left without a pension even in the event that their employer becomes insolvent.
	In total 2,296 people in the Yorkshire and Humber region are receiving compensation from the Pension Protection Fund (data not available at constituency level)(3).
	We have also taken forward a radical package of pension reforms in the Pensions Acts of 2007 and 2008 which will deliver a fairer and more generous state pension and extend the opportunity of workplace pension saving to millions, many for the first time.
	The state pension reforms begin to come into effect from 2010 and will mean around three quarters of women reaching state pension age in 2010 are expected to qualify for a full basic state pension compared to half without reform.
	 Support for disabled people and carers
	Since 2001, we have significantly extended and improved civil rights for disabled people in areas such as employment, education, access to goods and services and transport. Disabled people in Hemsworth will have benefited from these improvements. The Welfare Reform Act 2009 contains powers to increase choice and control for disabled adults, including disabled parents who are entitled to state support, enabling them to choose how certain state support is used to meet their individual needs. This will be trailblazed in up to eight local authority areas from late 2010. Older and less well off carers have gained extra help through the provisions within the National Carers Strategy.
	(1) The Department for Work and Pensions was created in 2001 and so information relates to the Department and its predecessors.
	(2) Based on three-year averages and changes are rounded to the nearest percentage point or 100,000 pensioners between 2000-01 to 2002-03 and 2005-06 to 2007-08.
	(3) Regional information about assistance payments received by members from the Financial Assistance Scheme could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Housing Benefit

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent on housing benefit at 2009-10 prices in each year since 1997.

Helen Goodman: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Housing benefit expenditure in Great Britain 
			   £ million, 2009-10 prices 
			 1997-98 14,837 
			 1998-99 14,386 
			 1999-2000 14,107 
			 2000-01 14,047 
			 2001-02 14,265 
			 2002-03 15,069 
			 2003-04 14,314 
			 2004-05 14,847 
			 2005-06 15,429 
			 2006-07 15,966 
			 2007-08 16,451 
			 2008-09 17,447 
			  Notes: 1. Expenditure figures include all housing benefit expenditure whether funded by central or local government. 2. Real terms figures are in 2009-10 prices, and derived using the 2009 pre-Budget report GDP deflator. 3. Historic and forecast expenditure for housing benefit can be found on the internet at http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/medium_term.asp  Source: Local authority expenditure data

Industrial Diseases: Compensation

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many former miners have  (a) applied for and  (b) been granted industrial injuries benefit for miners' knee; and what have been the five most frequent reasons for refusing applications.

Jonathan R Shaw: Since the addition of osteoarthritis of the knee to the list of prescribed industrial diseases on 13 July 2009, 33,602 claims have been received.
	13,376 claims have been processed of which 5239 have received an award of, or an increase of, industrial injuries disablement benefit.
	Information is collected about the three most frequent reasons for refusing applications. These are as follows:
	3,420 were diagnosed with the disease but the assessment was less than 14 per cent., which means IIDB is not payable;
	2,344 did not satisfy the occupational criteria;
	2,189 did not have the disease diagnosed.
	This information is based on an informal count by the Jobcentre Plus offices dealing with industrial injuries disablement benefit. We are looking into arrangements to publish this information as official statistics.
	My colleague, Lord McKenzie of Luton, had a very helpful meeting with the National Union of Mineworkers on 14 January to discuss how the scheme is operating in relation to osteoarthritis of the knee claims, in particular the medical assessment process, and to identify ways to improve its administration. Officials will be having further meetings with the mining unions to discuss this work in more detail.

Jobcentre Plus: Finance

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what budget for Jobcentre Plus outreach work is in 2009-10; and what the budget will be in  (a) 2010-11,  (b) 2011-12 and  (c) 2012-13.

Jonathan R Shaw: Jobcentre Plus has locations across the country providing outreach services. These meet the needs of customers and communities, reaching the most disadvantaged and vulnerable in society. Outreach work is not an activity in its own right but covers a variety of initiatives that form part of the core services delivered to our customers and as such there is no specific budget allocated for outreach work alone.

Jobcentre Plus: Public Relations

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what payments  (a) Jobcentre Plus and  (b) the Pension Protection Fund has made to Fishburn Hedges in the last 12 months for which figures are available; for what purpose; and if she will place in the Library a copy of the contracts under which such payments have been made.

Jim Knight: I can confirm that in the last 12 months Jobcentre Plus has spent £49,957 with Fishburn Hedges which relates to fees associated with ESA public relations activity.
	The chief executive of the Pension Protection Fund will write to the hon. Member in relation to the second part of his question as this is a matter for him.

Milton Keynes

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if she will set out, with statistical information related as directly as possible to North East Milton Keynes constituency, the effects on Milton Keynes of the policies and actions of her Department and its predecessors since 1997.

Jonathan R Shaw: DWP lead the Government's response to some of the biggest issues facing the country-welfare and pension reform-and are a key player in tackling child poverty(1). As the biggest delivery department in the UK, DWP makes a difference to millions of people every day, helping them to lead safer, fairer and more rewarding lives that are free from poverty. We want to give people more choice and control over their lives and are committed to providing greater choice and personalised support to everyone who needs it so they have the opportunity to get into and remain in work. We believe that work works. Even in economically challenging times we know that work works for the most vulnerable and the disadvantaged.
	 Support to find work
	Through Jobcentre Plus, we are promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age. Since 1997, the number of people unemployed in North East Milton Keynes has increased by 153 per cent. to 3,093, and the number unemployed for more than one year has increased by 94 per cent. to 475. From May 1997 to May 2009 the number of lone parents claiming Income Support in North East Milton Keynes has decreased by 6 per cent. to 1,310.
	Our New Deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, disabled people, the over 50s and partners of unemployed people to move from benefit into work. Since their inception over 2.2 million people in Great Britain have found work with the support of the New Deal, and 2,560 have been helped in North East Milton Keynes.
	 Support for children
	We introduced a target to halve child poverty by 2010-11 on the way to eradicating it by 2020. Poverty is measured using a headline indicator of the proportion of children in households with an income below 60 per cent. of contemporary household median income before housing costs. This is in line with international best practice.
	Statistics on the numbers of children living in poverty are not available at the constituency level, but the latest information for the South East Government Office Region shows that the proportion of children in poverty has fallen from 16 per cent. to 15 per cent. since 1997.
	 Support for older people
	Since 1997 our strategy has been to target help on the poorest pensioners while providing a solid foundation of support for all.
	This year we will be spending over £13 billion more on pensioners than if we had continued with the policies that were in place in 199. Around half of that money will go to the poorest third of pensioners.
	In 1997 the poorest pensioners, who received income support, lived on £69 a week (£98 in today's prices). Today pension credit, which was introduced in 2003, means no pensioner needs to live on less than £130 a week, £198.45 for couples. As of May 2009 3,900 pensioners in North East Milton Keynes are benefiting from pension credit.
	In 2007-08 there were 900,000 fewer pensioners living in relative poverty in UK compared to 1998-99 (measured as below 60 per cent. of contemporary median household income after housing costs).
	Statistics on the proportion of pensioners living in relative poverty are not available at the constituency level. But the latest data for the South East Government Office Region show that the number of pensioners in poverty (measured as below 60 per cent. of contemporary median household income after housing costs) has fallen from 26 per cent. in 1997 to 16 per cent(2).
	Pensioners in the UK also benefit from a range of additional support such as the Winter Fuel Payment which this winter is worth £250 for households with someone aged between 60-79 and £400 for households with someone aged 80 or over. These payments provide vital reassurance to older people that they can afford to turn up their heating during cold weather. Prior to winter 1997-98 less than £60 million was spent helping pensioners meet their fuel bills - this year we will be spending around £2.7 billion on winter fuel payments alone. In 2008-09 16,810 people aged 60 and over benefited from winter fuel payments in North East Milton Keynes.
	We have also taken steps to strengthen and protect the private pensions system to ensure people can continue to have confidence to save for their future through the establishment of the Pensions Protection Fund, the Financial Assistance Scheme and a more powerful and proactive pensions regulator.
	The protection system ensures that, unlike in 1997, people are not left without a pension even in the event that their employer becomes insolvent.
	In total 733 people in the South East are receiving compensation from the Pension Protection Fund (data not available at constituency level(3)).
	We have also taken forward a radical package of pension reforms in the Pensions Acts of 2007 and 2008 which will deliver a fairer and more generous state pension and extend the opportunity of workplace pension saving to millions, many for the first time.
	The state pension reforms begin to come into effect from 2010 and will mean around three quarters of women reaching state pension age in 2010 are expected to qualify for a full basic state pension compared to half without reform.
	 Support for disabled people and carers
	Since 2001, we have significantly extended and improved civil rights for disabled people in areas such as employment, education, access to goods and services and transport. Disabled people in North East Milton Keynes will have benefited from these improvements. The Welfare Reform Act 2009 contains powers to increase choice and control for disabled adults, including disabled parents who are entitled to state support, enabling them to choose how certain state support is used to meet their individual needs. This will be trail blazed in up to eight local authority areas from late 2010. Older and less well off carers have gained extra help through the provisions within the national carers strategy.
	(1) The Department for Work and Pensions was created in 2001 and so information relates to the department and its predecessors.
	(2) Based on three-year averages and changes are rounded to the nearest percentage point or 100,000 pensioners between 1997-98 to 1999-2000 and 2005-06 to 2007-08.
	(3) Regional information about assistance payments received by members from the Financial Assistance Scheme could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Motability

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the motability contract for electric-powered vehicles managed by her Department was subject to external tender; and what the monetary value of the current contract is.

Jonathan R Shaw: Motability is an independent charitable company and is responsible for the administration of the Motability Scheme. They have agreed to write separately to the hon. Gentleman on this matter.

Pathways to Work

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what profiling system the Department currently uses to assess how far from the job market a claimant for  (a) incapacity benefit and  (b) employment and support allowance who is referred to a Pathways to Work provider is.

Jonathan R Shaw: While we do not have an electronic profiling system, people on incapacity benefit or employment and support allowance take part in interviews with personal advisers who help customers identify appropriate job goals and move back into work as quickly as possible, depending on their individual circumstances.
	For employment and support allowance customers, the discussion between personal advisers and claimants is informed by the report provided following a work-focused health-related assessment. This assessment provides the opportunity for individuals to explore their aspirations and perceptions about engaging in work with a health care professional. During the assessment customers' are able to identify the health-related challenges preventing them from moving into work, and the interventions or types of work-place adaptation, which might help them to overcome these challenges.
	As set out in the 2009 White Paper Building Britain's Recovery: Achieving Full Employment, we are currently trialling a profiling tool for jobseekers to help target support. If successful we will consider using this to support advisers' judgment.

Pensioners: Income

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of  (a) single pensioner and  (b) pensioner couple households living below the guaranteed minimum income for pensioners.

Angela Eagle: The information that is available is shown in the following table. Information surrounding pensioners' incomes is most commonly given in benefit unit terms. The latest available information on pensioner incomes is for 2007-08 and figures have been rounded to the nearest 100,000.
	In 2007-08, the latest year for which data is available, the Pension Credit Guarantee Credit amounts were £119.05 and £181.70, for singles and couples respectively.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of pensioner units living with income below the minimum income guarantee (at 2007-08 levels) 
			   Number 
			 Pensioner singles 400,000 
			 Pensioner couples 200,000 
			  Notes: 1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100,000. 2. Pensioner units are either a single pensioner over state pension age (65 and over for men or 60 and over for women) or pensioner couples. Pensioner couples are couples where at least one member is over state pension age. 3. Income is calculated as the benefit unit's gross income. 4. Based on FRS survey data and as such subject to a degree of sampling and non-sampling error.  Source: Pensioners' Incomes Series (derived from the Family Resources Survey).

Pensioners: Poverty

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether her Department has commissioned recent research into the material deprivation of pensioner households.

Angela Eagle: The latest published research on material deprivation of pensioner households reported on a programme of work to develop new survey questions for DWP's Family Resources Survey which were introduced in May 2008. The research identified problems in measuring material deprivation among older people and suggested a new question structure to address these problems. Details of this research are available at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/WP54.pdf
	and
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/WP55.pdf
	Information from the survey will be included in Households Below Average Incomes 2008-09, due to be published in April/May 2010, reflecting responses to the 15 individual questions relating to material deprivation. We are currently in the process of commissioning research to assess options for combining these responses into an overall indicator of the material deprivation of pensioner households.

Pensions: Senior Civil Servants

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether bonus payments paid to senior civil servants form part of their remuneration for pension purposes.

Dawn Butler: I have been asked to reply.
	Civil servants, including senior civil servants, have the choice of a pension provided under the rules of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme or an employer contribution to a stakeholder pension. The general principle is that bonus payments are not normally pensionable.

Sandwell

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if she will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to the borough of Sandwell, the effects on that borough of changes to the policies of her Department and its predecessors since 1997.

Jonathan R Shaw: DWP lead the Government's response to some of the biggest issues facing the country-welfare and pension reform-and are a key player in tackling child poverty(1). As the biggest delivery Department in the UK, DWP makes a difference to millions of people every day, helping them to lead safer, fairer and more rewarding lives that are free from poverty. We want to give people more choice and control over their lives and are committed to providing greater choice and personalised support to everyone who needs it so they have the opportunity to get into and remain in work. We believe that work works. Even in economically challenging times we know that work works for the most vulnerable and the disadvantaged.
	 Support to find work
	Through Jobcentre Plus, we are promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age. Since 1997, although the number of people unemployed in West Bromwich East has increased by 37 per cent. to 3,660, the number unemployed for more than one year has decreased by 24 per cent. to 665. From May 1997 to May 2009 the number of lone parents claiming income support in West Bromwich East has decreased by 2 per cent. to 1,370.
	Our new deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, disabled people, the over-50s and partners of unemployed people to move from benefit into work. Since their inception over 2.2 million people in Great Britain have found work with the support of the new deal, and 16,370 have been helped in the Sandwell local authority area.
	 Support for children
	We introduced a target to halve child poverty by 2010-11 on the way to eradicating it by 2020. Poverty is measured using a headline indicator of the proportion of children in households with an income below 60 per cent. of contemporary household median income before housing costs. This is in line with international best practice.
	Statistics on the number of children living in poverty are not available at the constituency level, but the latest information for the West Midlands area shows that the proportion of children in poverty fell from 28 per cent. to 27 per cent. since 1997.
	 Support for older people
	Since 1997, our strategy has been to target help on the poorest pensioners while providing a solid foundation of support for all.
	This year we will be spending over £13 billion more on pensioners than if we had continued with the policies that were in place in 1997. Around half of that money will go to the poorest third of pensioners.
	In 1997, the poorest pensioners who received income support, lived on £69 a week (£98 in today's prices). Today pension credit, which was introduced in 2003, means no pensioner needs to live on less than £130 a week, £198.45 for couples. As of May 2009, 26,720 pensioners in the borough of Sandwell are benefiting from pension credit.
	In 2007-08 there were 900,000 fewer pensioners living in relative poverty in UK compared to 1998-99 (measured as below 60 per cent. of contemporary median household income after housing costs).
	Statistics on proportion of pensioners living in relative poverty are not available at the constituency level. But the latest data for the West Midlands Government Office Region show that the number of pensioners in poverty has fallen from 28 per cent. in 1997 to 18 per cent(2).
	Pensioners in the UK also benefit from a range of additional support such as the winter fuel payment which this winter is worth £250 for households with someone aged between 60-79 and £400 for households with someone aged 80 or over. These payments provide vital reassurance to older people so that they can afford to turn up their heating during cold weather. Prior to winter 1997-98, less than £60 million was spent helping pensioners meet their fuel bills-this year we will be spending around £2.7 billion on winter fuel payments alone. In 2008-09, 55,210 people aged 60 and over benefited from winter fuel payments in the borough of Sandwell.
	We have also taken steps to strengthen and protect the private pensions system to ensure people can continue to have confidence to save for their future through the establishment of the Pensions Protection Fund, the Financial Assistance Scheme and a more powerful and proactive pensions regulator.
	The protection system ensures that, unlike in 1997, people are not left without a pension even in the event that their employer becomes insolvent.
	In total 4,709 people in the West Midlands region are receiving compensation from the Pension Protection Fund (data not available at constituency level)(3).
	We have also taken forward a radical package of pension reforms in the Pensions Acts of 2007 and 2008 which will deliver a fairer and more generous state pension and extend the opportunity of workplace pension saving to millions, many for the first time.
	The state pension reforms begin to come into effect from 2010 and will mean around three quarters of women reaching state pension age in 2010 are expected to qualify for a full basic state pension compared to half without reform.
	 Support for disabled people and carers
	Since 2001, we have significantly extended and improved civil rights for disabled people in areas such as employment, education, access to goods and services and transport. Disabled people in Sandwell will have benefited from these improvements. The Welfare Reform Act 2009 contains powers to increase choice and control for disabled adults, including disabled parents who are entitled to state support, enabling them to choose how certain state support is used to meet their individual needs. This will be trail-blazed in up to eight local authority areas from late 2010.
	Older and less well-off carers have gained extra help through the provisions within the National Carers Strategy.
	(1) The Department for Work and Pensions was created in 2001 and so information relates to the Department and its predecessors.
	(2) Based on three-year averages and changes are rounded to the nearest percentage point or 100,000 pensioners between 1997-98 to 1999-2000 and 2005-06 to 2007-08.
	(3) Regional information about assistance payments received by members from the Financial Assistance Scheme could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Second State Pension

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent on the second state pension in 2009-10; how much such expenditure was on entitlements accrued during  (a) 2008-09,  (b) 2007-08 and  (c) 2006-07; and if she will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 23 November 2009
	 Public expenditure on state second pension/state earnings-related pension scheme in 2009-10 is expected to be £13,200 million.
	The following table shows the planned expenditure on state second pension entitlements accrued during  (a) 2008-09,  (b) 2007-08 and  (c) 2006-07.
	
		
			  Financial year, cash terms 
			  Y ear second state pension entitlements accrued  Planned expenditure (£ million) in 2009-10 
			 2008-09 20 
			 2007-08 60 
			 2006-07 100 
			  Notes: 1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest £10 million. 2. Forecasts of second state pension/state earnings related pension scheme are based on the pre-Budget report 2009 forecasts. Published expenditure tables can found at the following link: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/medium_term.asp 3. Updated forecasts are scheduled to be published at Budget 2010. 4. Accrued entitlement after 2002 only relates to second state pension and does not include the state earnings related pension scheme. 5. The table shows that there are more cohorts in the later years that have accrued entitlement. Planned expenditure in 2009-10 of entitlements accrued in 2008-09 relates to men currently aged 65 and women aged 60. Planned expenditure in 2009-10 of entitlement accrued in 2007-08 relates to men currently aged 65, 66 and women aged 60, 61. Planned expenditure in 2009-10 of entitlement accrued in 2006-07 relates to men currently aged 65, 66, 67 and women aged 60, 61, 62.  Source: Strategy Directorate modelling.

Slough

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if she will set out, with statistical information related as directly as possible to the Slough constituency, the effects on Slough of her Department's policies and actions since 2000.

Jonathan R Shaw: As the biggest delivery department in the UK, DWP makes a difference to millions of people every day, helping them to lead safer, fairer and more rewarding lives that are free from poverty. The policies that we have introduced since 1997 have aimed to give people more choice and control over their lives. Through our welfare reform programme, we are committed to providing personalised support to everyone who needs it so they have the opportunity to get into and remain in work.
	 Support to find work
	Through Jobcentre Plus, we are promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age. Since 1997, although the number of people unemployed in Slough has increased by 39 per cent. to 3,028, the number unemployed for more than one year has decreased by 54 per cent. to 270. From May 1997 to May 2009 the number of lone parents claiming income support in Slough has decreased by 21 per cent. to 1,740.
	Our New Deal programmes have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, disabled people, the over 50s and partners of unemployed people to move from benefit into work. Since their inception over 2.2 million people in Great Britain have found work with the support of the New Deal and 3,200 have been helped in Slough.
	 Support for children
	We introduced a target to halve child poverty by 2010-11 on the way to eradicating it by 2020. Poverty is measured using a headline indicator of the proportion of children in households with an income below 60 per cent. of contemporary household median income before housing costs. This is in line with international best practice.
	Statistics on the number of children living in poverty are not available at the constituency level, but the latest information for the South East Government Office Region shows that the proportion of children in poverty rose from 14 per cent. to 15 per cent. since 2000.
	 Support for older people
	Since 1997 our strategy has been to target extra help at the poorest pensioners while providing a solid foundation of support for all.
	This year we will spend over £13 billion more on pensioners than if we had continued with the policies that were in place in 1997. Around half of that money will go to the poorest third of pensioners.
	In 1997 the poorest pensioners, who received income support, lived on £69 a week (£98 in today's prices). Today pension credit, which was introduced in 2003, means no pensioner needs to live on less than £130 a week, £198.45 for couples. As of May 2009, 4,060 pensioners in Slough are receiving pension credit.
	In 2007-08 there were 900,000 fewer pensioners living in relative poverty in the UK compared to 1998-99 (measured as below 60 per cent. of contemporary median household income after housing costs). Statistics on the number of pensioners living in relative poverty are not available at the constituency level, but the latest information for the South East Government Office Region shows that poverty has fallen from 23 per cent. to 16 per cent. since 2000.
	Pensioners in the UK also benefit from a range of additional support such as the Winter Fuel Payment which this winter is worth £250 for households aged between 60-79 and £400 for households aged 80 or over. These payments provide vital reassurance to older people that they can afford to turn up their heating during cold weather. Prior to winter 1997-98 less than £60 million was spent helping pensioners meet their fuel bills-this year we will be spending around £2.7 billion on Winter Fuel Payments alone. In 2008-09 14,090 people aged 60 and over benefited from Winter Fuel Payments in Slough.
	We have also taken steps to strengthen and protect the private pensions system to ensure people can continue to have confidence to save for their future through the establishment of the Pensions Protection Fund, the Financial Assistance Scheme and a more powerful and proactive pensions regulator.
	The protection system ensures that, unlike in 1997, people are not left without a pension even in the event that their employer becomes insolvent.
	In total 716 people in the South East Region are receiving compensation from the Pension Protection Fund (data not available at the constituency level).
	We have also taken forward a radical package of pension reforms in the Pensions Acts of 2007 and 2008 which will deliver a fairer and more generous state pension and extend the opportunity of workplace pension saving to millions, many for the first time.
	The state pension reforms begin to come into effect from 2010 and will mean around three quarters of women reaching state pension age in 2010 are expected to qualify for a full basic state pension compared to half without reform.
	 Support for disabled people and carers
	Since 2001, we have significantly extended and improved civil rights for disabled people in areas such as employment, education, access to goods and services and transport. Disabled people in Slough will have benefited from these improvements. The Welfare Reform Act 2009 contains powers to increase choice and control for disabled adults, including disabled parents, enabling them to choose how certain state support is used to meet their individual needs. Older and less well-off carers are receiving extra help through the provisions within the National Carers Strategy.

Social Security Benefits: Debts

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 25 January 2010,  Official Report, column 578W, on social security benefits: debts, in respect of which Jobcentre Plus district is each of the 10 largest debts owed to the Department.

Helen Goodman: The Department treats all personal data as confidential. We take extremely seriously our duty to protect customer confidentiality. We believe the release of this information could lead to confidentiality being compromised; so breaching our duty of care to our customers.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in England and Wales have been prosecuted for benefit fraud on  (a) more than one occasion and  (b) more than two occasions in each of the last three years.

Helen Goodman: Information on the number of people in England and Wales prosecuted for benefit fraud on more than one occasion and more than two occasions in each of the last three years is not available.
	Information is available for convictions during 2006-07 in cases where benefit fraud has been committed on more than one or more than two occasions. The available information is in the table:
	
		
			   Number 
			  Number of people convicted where benefit fraud committed on:  
			 more than one occasion 104 
			 more than two occasions 0 
		
	
	Options for collating this data more systematically are kept under review subject to cost effectiveness.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in which countries persons living abroad who are identified as having perpetrated benefit fraud reside.

Jonathan R Shaw: UK nationals can, in certain circumstances, continue to receive some benefits while abroad, others will cease immediately. The Department for Work and Pensions is reminding people in the latest targeting fraud campaign and in leaflets, of their responsibility to tell us if they are going abroad.
	In addition we are increasing the number of countries with which we have arrangements for closer working and data sharing and employing Department for Work and Pensions officers based abroad.
	Recent investigations have identified evidence of fraud in 51 cases in the following countries:
	Australia
	Austria
	Bahrain
	Bulgaria
	Canada
	Cyprus
	Eire
	France
	Greece
	Holland
	India
	Italy
	New Zealand
	Pakistan
	Portugal
	South Africa
	Spain
	Thailand
	Trinidad and Tobago
	USA

Thanet

Stephen Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if she will set out, with statistical information related as directly as possible to South Thanet constituency, the effects on South Thanet of her Department's policies and actions since 2000.

Jonathan R Shaw: DWP lead the Government's response to some of the biggest issues facing the country-welfare and pension reform-and are a key player in tackling child poverty(1). As the biggest delivery department in the UK, DWP makes a difference to millions of people every day, helping them to lead safer, fairer and more rewarding lives that are free from poverty. We want to give people more choice and control over their lives and are committed to providing greater choice and personalised support to everyone who needs it so they have the opportunity to get into and remain in work. We believe that work works. Even in economically challenging times we know that work works for the most vulnerable and the disadvantaged.
	 Support to find work
	Through Jobcentre Plus, we are promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age. Since 2000, although the number of people unemployed in South Thanet has increased by 31 per cent. to 2,153, the number unemployed for more than one year has decreased by 21 per cent. to 280. From May 2000 to May 2009 the number of lone parents claiming income support in South Thanet has decreased by 24 per cent. to 1,070.
	Our new deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, disabled people, the over 50s and partners of unemployed people to move from benefit into work. Since their inception over 2.2 million people in Great Britain have found work with the support of the new deal, and 3,640 have been helped in South Thanet.
	 Support for children
	We introduced a target to halve child poverty by 2010-11 on the way to eradicating it by 2020. Poverty is measured using a headline indicator of the proportion of children in households with an income below 60 per cent. of contemporary household median income before housing costs. This is in line with international best practice.
	Statistics on the numbers of children living in poverty are not available at the constituency level. But the latest information for the south east Government office region shows that the proportion of children in poverty has risen from 14 per cent. to 15 per cent. since 2000.(2)
	 Support for older people
	Figures from 2000 relating to support for older people could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, figures are available from 1997 and these are shown as follows.
	Since 1997 our strategy has been to target help on the poorest pensioners while providing a solid foundation of support for all.
	This year we will be spending over £13 billion more on pensioners than if we had continued with the policies that were in place in 1997. Around half of that money will go to the poorest third of pensioners.
	In 1997 the poorest pensioners, who received income support, lived on £69 a week (£98 in today's prices). Today pension credit, which was introduced in 2003, means no pensioner needs to live on less than £130 a week, £198.45 for couples. As of May 2009 6,340 pensioners in South Thanet are benefiting from pension credit.
	In 2007-08 there were 900,000 fewer pensioners living in relative poverty in UK compared to 1998-99 (measured as below 60 per cent. of contemporary median household income after housing costs).
	Statistics on the proportion of pensioners living in relative poverty are not available at the constituency level. But the latest data for the south east Government office region show that the number of pensioners in poverty fell from 23 per cent. to16 per cent. since 2000(3).
	Pensioners in the UK also benefit from a range of additional support such as the winter fuel payment which this winter is worth £250 for households aged between 60 to 79 and £400 for households aged 80 or over. These payments provide vital reassurance to older people that they can afford to turn up their heating during cold weather. Prior to winter 1997-98 less than £60 million was spent helping pensioners meet their fuel bills-this year we will be spending around £2.7 billion on winter fuel payments alone. In 2008-09 22,070 people aged 60 and over benefited from winter fuel payments in South Thanet.
	We have also taken steps to strengthen and protect the private pensions system to ensure people can continue to have confidence to save for their future through the establishment of the Pensions Protection Fund, the financial assistance scheme and a more powerful and proactive pensions regulator.
	The protection system ensures that, unlike in 1997, people aren't left without a pension even in the event that their employer becomes insolvent.
	In total 733 people in the south east region are receiving compensation from the Pension Protection Fund (data not available at constituency level).(4)
	We have also taken forward a radical package of pension reforms in the Pensions Acts of 2007 and 2008 which will deliver a fairer and more generous state pension and extend the opportunity of workplace pension saving to millions, many for the first time.
	The state pension reforms begin to come into effect from 2010 and will mean around three quarters of women reaching state pension age in 2010 are expected to qualify for a full basic state pension compared to half without reform.
	 Support for disabled people and carers
	Since 2001, we have significantly extended and improved civil rights for disabled people in areas such as employment, education, access to goods and services and transport. Disabled people in South Thanet will have benefited from these improvements. The Welfare Reform Act 2009 contains powers to increase choice and control for disabled adults, including disabled parents who are entitled to state support, enabling them to choose how certain state support is used to meet their individual needs. This will be trailblazed in up to eight local authority areas from late 2010. Older and less well off carers have gained extra help through the provisions within the National Carers Strategy.
	(1 )The Department for Work and Pensions was created in 2001 and so information relates to the Department and its predecessors.
	(2 )Based on three-year averages and figures are rounded to the nearest percentage point or 100,000 children between 2000-01 to 2002-03 and 2005-06 to 2007-08.
	(3 )Based on three-year averages and changes are rounded to the nearest percentage point or 100,000 pensioners between 2000-01 to 2002-03 and 2005-06 to 2007-08.
	(4 )Regional information about assistance payments received by members from the financial assistance scheme could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Winter Fuel Payments

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the proportion of recipients of the winter fuel payment who were  (a) in fuel poverty when they received those payments and  (b) no longer in fuel poverty as a result of having received those payments in each year since the implementation of the winter fuel payment scheme; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the proportion of recipients of cold weather payments who were  (a) in fuel poverty when they received those payments and  (b) no longer in fuel poverty as a result of having received those payments in each year since the implementation of the cold weather payment scheme; and if she will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The information requested is not available.
	Identifying those in fuel poverty is very difficult; however we know that the main contributing factors are energy efficiency of homes, energy prices and household income.
	Both winter fuel and cold weather payments contribute to vulnerable households' incomes and provide reassurance that money will be available to contribute towards fuel bills. These payments form only part of a package of measures that the Government have put in place to tackle fuel poverty.
	It is estimated that winter fuel payments help to keep around 200,000 households out of fuel poverty each year in the UK.

Winter Fuel Payments: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many residents of  (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and  (b) the London borough of Bexley have received cold weather payments since 1 November 2009.

Helen Goodman: Cold weather payment information is not available by constituency or local authority. It is only available by weather station and postcode.

HEALTH

Accident and Emergency Departments

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what data accident and emergency departments are obliged to  (a) collect and  (b) return to his Department regarding causes of admission.

Mike O'Brien: Accident and emergency departments collect details about cause of admission. An extract of this data set is then collected centrally by the NHS Information Centre for health and social care as part of Hospital Episode Statistics and is published.
	Two data items collected in Hospital Episode Statistics describe the cause of admission: Patient group picks out seven specific causes, namely road traffic accident, assault, deliberate self-harm, sports injury, firework injury, other accident, and brought in dead. Clinical diagnosis provides a wider range of categories for cause of admission. Details for these categories are published in the Clinical Diagnosis section of the Hospital Episodes Data Dictionary. A copy of this has been placed in the Library and is also available at:
	www.hesonline.org.uk/Ease/servlet/Attachment Retriever?site_id=1937file_name=d:\efmfiles\1937\ Understanding\AEDD_Jul09.pdfshort_name=AEDD_Jul09. pdfu_id=8500
	No data on causes of admission are returned to the Department.

Alcoholic Drinks: Cancer and Strokes

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the cost to the NHS was of treating strokes caused by the consumption of alcohol in the last year for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the cost to the NHS was of treating  (a) depression and  (b) dementia attributable to alcohol in the last year for which figures are available;
	(3)  what the cost to the NHS was of treating breast cancer attributable to alcohol consumption in the last year for which figures are available;
	(4)  what the causes are of  (a) breast cancer and  (b) heart disease; and what proportion of cases of each were attributable to each such factor in the last 12 months;
	(5)  what the cost to the NHS was of treating  (a) breast cancer and  (b) heart disease attributable to the consumption of alcohol in the last year for which figures are available;
	(6)  how many reported cases of stroke there were in the last year for which figures are available; and in how many such cases the consumption of alcohol was a direct causal factor;
	(7)  what the cost to the NHS was of treating cancer of the  (a) mouth,  (b) oesophagus and  (c) larynx attributable to the consumption of alcohol in the last year for which figures are available.

Gillian Merron: The cost of treating specific alcohol-related conditions, such as breast cancer, heart disease, stroke or mental health conditions can be given only at a disproportionate cost. However, alcohol misuse is estimated to cost the national health service around £2.7 billion per annum, which is broken down in the following table.
	
		
			  Estimates of the annual cost of alcohol misuse to the NHS in England 
			   Cost estimate (£ million) 
			  Hospital in-patient and day visits  
			 Directly attributable to alcohol misuse 167.6 
			 Partly attributable to alcohol misuse 1,022.7 
			   
			 Hospital out-patient visits 272.4 
			 Accident and emergency visits 645.7 
			 Ambulance services 372.4 
			 NHS GP consultations 102.1 
			 Practice nurse consultations 9.5 
			 Laboratory tests n/a 
			 Dependency prescribed drugs 2.1 
			 Specialist treatment services 55.3 
			 Other health care costs 54.4 
			 Total 2,704.1 
		
	
	There are a variety of direct risk factors that can lead to cancer and heart disease, but we know that tobacco, poor diet, genetics, such as a mutated BRC2 gene, and alcohol can cause cancer or heart disease in some individuals.
	From work carried out by the North West Public Health Observatory we are able to estimate what the proportion of hospital admissions are due to alcohol consumption, this is know as the alcohol attributable fraction (AAF). The following table provides the AAFs for cancer of the oesophagus, cancer of the larynx, breast cancer. As there is no AAF for stroke, we have provided AAFs for haemorrhagic stroke, ischaemic stroke as a proxy and as there is no AAF for heart disease, we have provided AAFs for alcoholic cardiomyopathy, ischaemic heart disease, cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure as a proxy. There are no such appropriate proxy AAFs for dementia or depression.
	
		
			  AAFs for haemorrhagic stroke, ischaemic stroke, cancer of the lip, oral cavity and pharynx, cancer of the oesophagus, cancer of the larynx, breast cancer and hypertension, alcoholic cardiomyopathy, ischaemic heart disease, cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure 
			  Percentage 
			  Condition  Alcohol attributable factor 
			   Male  Female 
			 Haemorrhagic stroke 24 10 
			 Ischaemic stroke 4 *-6 
			 Cancer of the lip, oral cavity and pharynx 47 28 
			 Cancer of the oesophagus 26 13 
			 Cancer of the larynx 29 16 
			 Breast cancer n/a 7 
			 Hypertensive disease 28 13 
			 Alcoholic cardiomyopathy 100 100 
			 Ischaemic heart disease *-6 *-4 
			 Cardiac arrhythmias 33 25 
			 Heart failure 0.4 0.2 
			  Source:  Alcohol-attributable fractions for England, North West Public Health Observatory, 2008 
		
	
	It is important to note that although recent meta-analyses showed that alcohol consumption was found to have protective effects on the risk of four conditions: ischaemic heart disease (IHD); ischaemic stroke, type II diabetes; and cholelithiasis, the health benefits for heart disease mostly accrue at low levels of consumption (no more than one-two units daily is needed for the main protective effect) and the benefits are mainly only seen in men over 40 years old and in postmenopausal women. Drinking above the recommend lower-risk levels, of not regularly drinking more than three-four units per day for men and not regularly drinking more than two-three units per day for women, however, does increase the risk of both ischaemic heart disease and ischaemic stroke compared to non-drinkers.
	In 2008-09, there were 84,926 hospital admissions due to stroke. As there is no AAF for stroke we cannot say how many of these admissions were due to alcohol, but we can provide the number of hospital admissions for alcohol-related haemorrhagic stroke and alcohol-related ischaemic stroke as a proxy. In 2008-09, there were 2,445 admissions for alcohol-related haemorrhagic stroke and 1,197 admissions for alcohol-related ischaemic stroke.

Alzheimer's Disease: Research

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding his Department has allocated for research into the causes of Alzheimer's disease in each of the last three years.

David Lammy: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills does not allocate funding for specific research directly but provides funding through the research councils.
	The Medical Research Council (MRC) currently funds studies into the causes, prevention and treatment of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. These include studying drug treatment for managing symptoms, supporting tissue banks, and research into 'biomarkers' that might improve diagnosis. Other teams are investigating ways to diagnose and measure the progression of dementia and studying genes that may increase risk.
	MRC expenditure on dementia research, including Alzheimer's, in the last three years was as follows:
	
		
			   MRC expenditure (£ million) 
			 2006-07 6.4 
			 2007-08 10.2 
			 2008-09 11.5 
		
	
	The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) supports basic biological research in neuroscience and psychology. This includes basic underpinning research that may increase understanding of the causes of Alzheimer's. Funding on this research in the last three years was as follows:
	
		
			   Funding (£ million) 
			 2006-07 0.5 
			 2007-08 0.6 
			 2008-09 0.5 
		
	
	Additionally, the BBSRC funds research of relevance to amyloids, which are implicated in Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. Funding on this research in the last three years was as follows:
	
		
			   Funding (£ million) 
			 2006-07 0.4 
			 2007-08 0.8 
			 2008-09 0.8

Autism

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made by his Department in producing a national autism strategy.

Phil Hope: The legislation mandates a time frame for the publication of the strategy by 1 April 2010.
	The autism strategy will be published shortly, in advance of that date.

Autism

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made by his Department in producing a national autism strategy; and when he expects to issue guidance to local authorities and strategic health authorities.

Phil Hope: The Autism Act 2009 commits the Government to publishing a strategy for adults with autism no later than 1 April 2010. The autism strategy will be published shortly, in advance of that date.
	The Department will consult on the content of guidance for health and social care bodies over the summer and will publish that guidance before the end of December.

Breast Cancer

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths from breast cancer there were in the last year for which figures are available.

Angela Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated 9 February 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths from breast cancer there were in the last year for which figures are available. (316289)
	The table attached provides the number of deaths where breast cancer was the underlying cause of death, in England and Wales, in 2008 (the latest year available).
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of deaths where breast cancer was the underlying cause of death, England and Wales, 2008( 1,2,3) 
			  Cause of death  Deaths (persons) 
			 Breast cancer 10,779 
			 (1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code C50. (2) Figures for England and Wales include deaths of non-residents. (3) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.

Breast Cancer: Hemsworth

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of women resident in Hemsworth constituency with suspected breast cancer saw a specialist within two weeks of referral in each year since 1997.

Ann Keen: The information is not available in the format requested. The following table shows the number of people seen and the percentage seen within two weeks, following an urgent referral for suspected breast cancer for Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Mid-Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust.
	
		
			Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust  Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust 
			   Quarter (Q)  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 2001-02 Q1 98 96.1 86 69.9 
			  Q2 111 100.0 60 42.6 
			  Q3 121 100.0 141 88.1 
			  Q4 122 100.0 108 100.0 
			   
			 2002-03 Q1 118 95.9 162 100.0 
			  Q2 129 98.5 159 100.0 
			  Q3 101 84.2 223 98.7 
			  Q4 137 100.0 174 97.2 
			   
			 2003-04 Q1 126 100.0 181 98.9 
			  Q2 148 100.0 241 97.6 
			  Q3 157 100.0 208 92.9 
			  Q4 156 100.0 215 91.1 
			   
			 2004-05 Q1 155 100.0 208 99.5 
			  Q2 149 100.0 190 98.4 
			  Q3 164 100.0 241 99.2 
			  Q4 159 100.0 215 96.4 
			   
			 2005-06 Q1 199 100.0 231 98.7 
			  Q2 180 100.0 279 98.9 
			  Q3 188 100.0 283 100.0 
			  Q4 190 100.0 259 100.0 
			   
			 2006-07 Q1 177 100.0 308 100.0 
			  Q2 157 100.0 267 100.0 
			  Q3 175 100.0 352 100.0 
			  Q4 175 100.0 313 100.0 
			   
			 2007-08 Q1 154 100.0 288 100.0 
			  Q2 149 100.0 307 99.7 
			  Q3 151 100.0 424 99.8 
			  Q4 154 100.0 363 100.0 
			   
			 2008-09 Q1 186 100.0 454 99.6 
			  Q2 147 100.0 444 100.0 
			  Q3 166 100.0 420 100.0 
			  Q4 159 98.1 416 96.1 
			   
			 2009-10 Q1 177 97.3 390 95.6 
			  Q2 158 99.4 392 97.5 
			  Source:  Cancer Waiting Times database.

Cancer: Drugs

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the merits of providing to patients with rare cancers second line treatments licensed for their conditions.

Ann Keen: The Department has made no assessment of the merits of providing to patients with rare cancer second line treatments licensed for their conditions.
	However, second line treatments for patients with rarer cancers are included in the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's programme of work on cancer. Full details of completed and ongoing appraisals of these treatments can be found at
	www.nice.org.uk

Cancer: Drugs

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps he plans to take to reduce the time taken for individual funding requests for drug treatment from patients with metastatic cancer to be processed;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the performance of each primary care trust in meeting the timescales set out in the National Prescribing Centre's guidance on Principles for Processes Supporting Local Decision-making about Medicines in  (a) decision making,  (b) communication of outcome,  (c) case type and  (d) appeals processes.

Mike O'Brien: The National Prescribing Centre's document, 'Defining Guiding Principles for Processes supporting Local Decision Making about Medicines', available at:
	www.npc.co.uk/policy/local/guiding_principles.htm
	makes it clear that primary care trusts (PCTs) should make decisions in a reasonable and practical timeframe, but without compromising the minimum process requirements, even when requests are urgent. We expect PCTs to exercise their judgment when setting timeframes for dealing with individual requests. We have not made an assessment of PCT performance in dealing with such requests.

Cancer: Hemsworth

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of suspected cancer patients resident in Hemsworth saw an NHS consultant within two weeks of referral in each year since 1997.

Ann Keen: The information is not available in the format requested. The following table shows the number of people seen and the percentage seen within two weeks, following urgent referral with suspected cancer for Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Mid- Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust.
	
		
			Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust  Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust 
			   Quarter (Q)  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 2001-02 Q1 404 96.0 226 77.7 
			  Q2 375 94.20 211 65.5 
			  Q3 427 94.7 337 93.1 
			  Q4 448 95.7 367 98.9 
			   
			 2002-03 Q1 438 93.6 680 98.0 
			  Q2 477 95.4 737 98.8 
			  Q3 476 90.8 819 98.9 
			  Q4 537 98.0 797 97.9 
			   
			 2003-04 Q1 496 93.6 856 95.5 
			  Q2 522 93.4 1,010 93.4 
			  Q3 510 95.9 968 95.8 
			  Q4 654 99.8 984 94.6 
			   
			 2004-05 Q1 526 98.1 992 93.6 
			  Q2 574 98.6 995 94.5 
			  Q3 612 100.0 1,080 96.6 
			  Q4 576 100.0 973 87.0 
			   
			 2005-06 Q1 702 100.0 1,196 97.0 
			  Q2 683 100.0 1,301 96.9 
			  Q3 730 100.0 1,313 98.2 
			  Q4 750 100.0 1,299 99.8 
			   
			 2006-07 Q1 737 100.0 1,500 99.9 
			  Q2 700 100.0 1,642 99.8 
			  Q3 779 100.0 1,714 99.9 
			  Q4 759 100.0 1,628 99.9 
			   
			 2007-08 Q1 818 100.0 1,751 100.0 
			  Q2 734 100.0 1,824 99.9 
			  Q3 758 100.0 1,988 99.8 
			  Q4 666 100.0 1,908 99.7 
			   
			 2008-09 Q1 790 100.0 2,099 99.9 
			  Q2 820 100.0 2,233 100.0 
			  Q3 877 100.0 2,229 99.8 
			  Q4 848 94.2 2,135 94.8 
			   
			 2009-10 Q1 981 93.8 2,243 92.5 
			  Q2 954 97.3 2,344 91.5 
			  Source:  Cancer Waiting Times database.

Cancer: Kidneys

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the incidence of kidney cancer was in each region in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated February 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the incidence of kidney cancer was in each region in each of the last five years.
	The latest available figures for newly diagnosed cases of kidney cancer (incidence) are for the year 2007. Please note that these numbers may not be the same as the number of people diagnosed with cancer, because one person may be diagnosed with more than one cancer.
	Table 1 provides the numbers of newly diagnosed cases of kidney cancer in each government office region in England, for each year from 2003 to 2007.
	
		
			  Table 1. Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of kidney cancer,( 1)  government office regions, England,( 2)  2003 to 2007( 3) 
			  Persons 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 North East 349 329 346 354 346 
			 North West 686 655 679 741 758 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 572 583 607 675 655 
			 East Midlands 380 488 481 524 529 
			 West Midlands 503 496 532 541 590 
			 East 527 518 622 644 593 
			 London 547 550 552 550 590 
			 South East 787 888 872 883 925 
			 South West 620 663 714 780 770 
			 (1) Kidney cancer is coded as C64 in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). (2) Based on boundaries as of 2009. (3) Newly diagnosed cases registered in each calendar year.

Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the likely effects on the operational response to a public health incident of the transfer of the Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response from Porton Down to Terlings Park during the transfer period.

Gillian Merron: The business case for redevelopment or relocation of the Health Protection Agency's (HPA's) facilities at Porton Down will be considered by the Department when it is received. Any impact on the HPA's ability to respond to an emergency at any time during the proposed project will be part of the consideration.

Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response: Olympic Games 2012

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements are in place for the Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response to provide advice to the organisers of the London 2012 Olympics.

Gillian Merron: The Health Protection Agency as a whole, including the Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response, has been working with the organisers of the Olympic and Paralympics games and central government departments, since 2005 to provide advice and expertise on health protection issues.

Dementia: Health Services

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department issues to healthcare professionals on improvement of recognition rates for vascular dementia; and what progress has been made in implementing his Department's dementia strategies.

Phil Hope: Improving services for people with dementia including vascular dementia is a Government priority, and we have already identified it as a priority for the national health service in the operating framework. This will help to ensure that dementia is prioritised locally where further improvement may be needed.
	Early diagnosis of dementia including vascular dementia is a key part of the National Dementia Strategy, which was published a year ago and will be implemented over a five-year period. The joint National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and Social Care Institute for Excellence clinical guideline for England provides guidance to health care professionals for all types of dementia.

Departmental Energy

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated  (a) amount and  (b) cost was of energy used in his Department and its agencies in each year since 1997; what proportion of the energy used was generated from renewable sources in each of those years; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The amount and cost of energy used by the Department and its agencies and as reported as part of the Sustainable Development in Government annual exercise for the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			  Core Department of Health 
			  Consumption Kilowatt hour (kWh)  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Fossil Fuel 6,228,420 4,836,970 4,846,690 5,437,549 5,348,821 
			 Electricity 13,268,795 12,972,000 12,340,000 12,317,512 12,297620 
			 Total 19,497,215 17,808,971 17,186,690 17,755,061 17,646,440 
			 % renewable 68 72 71 67 68 
			 Cost (£) 848,572 £1,038,918 £1,095,438 £1,006,072 £1,686,629 
		
	
	
		
			  NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency 
			  Consumption KWh  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Fossil Fuel 455,509 513,790 547,914 589,362 418,320 
			 Electricity 572,893 640,780 669,822 718863 720,143 
			 Total 1,028,402 1,154,570 1,217,736 1,308,225 1,138,463 
			 % renewable 47 55 54 54 63 
			 Cost (£) 46,342 60,432 66,556 60,887 94,213 
			  Note: All data is weather corrected, and has been processed by the Building Research Establishment and signed off as part of the Sustainable Development in Government exercise. 
		
	
	Central government departments and their executive agencies are required to report performance data on the amount of energy sourced from renewable sources annually as part of the Sustainable Development in Government (SDiG) reporting process. The Government had a target to source at least 10 per cent of electricity from renewables by 31 March 2008, which it has already achieved. The latest assessment of Government's performance against this target was published by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) on the 18 December 2009, and is available on the OGC website
	www.ogc.gov.uk/sustainability_programme_progress.asp
	Information on reporting years prior to 2008-09 was collated and published by the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) can be found on the SDC website
	www.sd-commission.org.uk
	The information in this answer covers the Department's central administrative estate of Richmond House, Wellington House and Skipton House. The Department is a minor occupier in New Kings Beam House (HM Revenue and Customs) and Quarry House in Leeds (Department of Work and Pensions) and the data for these sites is not available to us. Reductions in 2005-06 and 2006-07 are due to the closure of one London building, Eileen House. From 2007-08, we included figures from our site in Nelson, Lancashire.
	The data supplied for NHS PASA relates to energy used at their Reading, Chester and Sheffield sites. The Sheffield site was closed during 2007-08.
	The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency are unable to provide electricity data for 2004-07 or gas data for 2004-09 as the information is not available from their landlord. This information has not been used for the energy efficiency part of the Sustainable Development in Government exercise, as the gas figures are unknown.
	
		
			  Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority 
			  Consumption KWh  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Fossil Fuel (1)- (1)- 
			 Electricity 1,672,16 4 1,697,914 
			 Total 1,672,16 4 1.697,914 
			 % renewable 0 0 
			 Cost (£) 163,000 146,000 
			 (1) Not known (2) Budget figure

Diabetes: Prisons

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what training his Department provides to  (a) prison officers and  (b) healthcare professionals on the management of diabetes in prisons;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of healthcare services for people with diabetes in prison;
	(3)  what steps his Department has taken to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes among prisoners;
	(4)  how many adults in prison are being treated for each type of diabetes.

Phil Hope: Since April 2006, commissioning responsibility for prison health services has been fully devolved to the national health service primary care trusts (PCTs). PCTs work with the prison healthcare team to assess the health care needs of their population and develop services to meet those needs. There is no specific training for prison officers in the management of diabetes.
	Local PCTs are responsible for assuring the training of their workforce and the quality of care provided in primary care settings to their local population, which includes the offender population within publicly run prisons in their locality.
	All clinical staff are regulated and subject to the same standards of practice including those providing care in prisons. The standards of care expressed in the New General Medical Services Quality Outcomes Framework will be monitored, as they are in general practice, across the prison estate following the roll out of a general practitioner (GP) clinical IT system.
	There is no specific programme in prisons for the prevention of type II diabetes, however, in April 2009, PCTs began phased implementation of the NHS Health Check programme which aims to prevent diabetes, stroke, heart disease and kidney disease. The programme is a universal and systematic programme for everyone between the ages of 40-74 that do not already have an existing vascular disease. The purpose of a NHS Health Check is to identify an individual's risk of diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke and kidney disease, for this risk to be communicated in a way that the individual understands, and for that risk to be managed by appropriate follow-up. It is the responsibility of local PCTs to consider their different communities, including offender populations, when doing so. NHS Health Checks can be carried out in a variety settings, including pharmacies, GP practices and other community settings such as prisons. This will help ensure access to the checks by prisoners.
	The Department does not collect the numbers of adults in prison being treated for each type of diabetes.

Drugs: Misuse

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what mechanism the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse liaises with the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

Gillian Merron: The secretariat of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), working together with the Department, which sponsors the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA), ensures that appropriate collaboration takes place between the ACMD and NTA on matters of mutual interest.
	In addition, employees of the NTA have been or are ACMD members in a personal capacity. NTA staff have appeared before the Council as expert witnesses on particular drug misuse issues and the NTA has also attended public meetings of the ACMD, as a public stakeholder.

East Midlands Strategic Health Authority: Finance

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much NHS East Midlands spent on independent investigations relating to the care of patients in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what the total cost to NHS East Midlands was of the independent investigation into the death of Karen Godden, reference 2007/9913.

Phil Hope: This information is not collected centrally. However, this information may be available directly from East Midlands Strategic Health Authority.

Family Nurse Partnership Programme: Finance

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate has been made of the cost to the public purse of delivering the Family Nurse Partnership nationwide.

Ann Keen: We are still testing the Family Nurse Partnership programme in England, and so are not yet in a position to estimate the costs of delivering it nationwide.

Feltham

Alan Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Feltham and Heston constituency, the effects on that constituency of changes to the Department's policies since 1997.

Mike O'Brien: The Government have put in place a programme of national health service investment and reform since 1997 to improve service delivery in all parts of the United Kingdom. 93 per cent. of people nationally now rate the NHS as good or excellent. The NHS constitution contains 25 rights and 14 pledges for patients and the public including new rights to be treated within 18 weeks, or be seen by a cancer specialist within two weeks and an NHS health check every five years for those aged 40-74 years.
	There is significant evidence that these policies have yielded considerable benefits for the Feltham and Heston constituency. For example, figures for November 2009 show that in Hounslow Primary Care Trust (PCT):
	92 per cent. of patients whose treatment involved admission to hospital started their treatment within 18 weeks.
	96 per cent. of patients whose treatment did not involve admission to hospital started their treatment within 18 weeks.
	Between September 2001 and September 2008 the number of general practitioners (GPs) per 100,000 people within Hounslow PCT has increased from 55.6 to 61.2.
	Hounslow PCT opened the Heart of Hounslow Centre for Health in February 2007. The centre became a polyclinic on 29 April 2009. It offers GP services between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. seven days a week, 365 days a year, as well as access to a wide range of outpatient healthcare services.
	In September 2009, at West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust, 98.9 per cent. of patients spent less than four hours in accident and emergency from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge.
	Between September 1997 and September 2008 the number of consultants at West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust increased from 50 to 79. Between September 1997 and September 2008 the estimated number of nurses increased from 604 to 904.
	92.8 per cent. of urgent GP referrals to West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust with suspected cancer are seen by a specialist within two weeks of the referral.
	Although statistical information is not available at a local level, Feltham and Heston will have also benefited from national policies in other areas. For example since 1997, gross current expenditure on personal social services has increased by around 70 per cent. in real terms with around 105,000 households now receiving intensive home care and 3,076 new extra care housing units - exceeding the original target of 1,500 new extra care units.
	Other strategies currently being implemented are:
	Subject to parliamentary approval, the Personal Care at Home Bill will guarantee free personal care for 280,000 people with the highest needs and help around 130,000 people who need home care for the first time to regain their independence;
	Shaping the Future of Care Together Green Paper, published in July 2009, sets out a vision for a National Care Service for all adults in England which is fair, simple and affordable. The Department has consulted widely on this reform and is currently analysing the responses, which will feed into a White Paper later this year;
	The National Carer's Strategy - (Carers at the heart of 21st century families and communities)- launched in 2008;
	The first National Dementia Strategy was published in February 2009; Valuing People Now - a three year strategy for people with learning disabilities published in January 2009; and
	New Horizons: A Shared Vision for Mental Health - launched in December 2009 - to maintain improvements in mental health services combined with a new cross-Government approach to promoting public mental health.
	Since 1998, there are now 2.4 million fewer smokers in England as a result of the Government's comprehensive tobacco control strategy which has had a measurable impact on reducing smoking prevalence.
	Child obesity levels are reducing due to the efforts of families across England, supported by the Government's obesity strategy. In 2008, 13.9 per cent. of children (aged two to 10) in England were classified as obese, compared with 17.3 per cent. in 2005.
	Overall, life expectancy at birth for men has increased from 74.5 years (1995-1997 data) to 77.7 years (2006-08 data) while for women, life expectancy at birth has increased from 79.6 years (1995-97 data) to 81.9 years (2006-08 data).

Food Standards Agency

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) objectives and  (b) costs for 2009-10 are of the Food Standards Agency's Livestock Traceability Scheme.

Gillian Merron: The Food Standards Agency has advised that it does not have a 'Livestock Traceability Scheme'. European Union legislation requires food business operators (FBOs) at slaughterhouses to be able to trace all food-producing animals supplied to them and, from 1 January 2010, to receive food chain information (FCI) for all cattle and sheep sent for slaughter for human consumption. The requirement for FCI forms part of the whole chain, farm-to-fork approach to food safety introduced by EU hygiene regulations from 1 January 2006.
	The Meat Hygiene Service verifies the checks on livestock identification carried out by FBOs in slaughterhouses to ensure the traceability of meat for food safety and animal disease control purposes. Livestock traceability is the responsibility of Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Departments of Rural Affairs in the devolved Administrations.

General Practitioners

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to reduce the number of people presenting to their GPs with minor ailments.

Mike O'Brien: The Department's self care strategy focuses on supporting people especially those with long-term conditions to take a more active and informed role in decisions about their health and well-being. Your health, your way provides information about self care support on NHS Choices, including Making the most of your pharmacist.
	Community pharmacies have a key role to play in supporting self care, providing advice and support to people requesting help with the treatment of minor ailments, illnesses and injuries including advice on the use of over-the-counter treatments, where appropriate. The pharmacy communications strategy, currently under way, aims to encourage people to use pharmacies as the first port of call for such minor ailments, potentially reducing the number of people presenting to general practitioners' surgeries.

General Practitioners: Opening Hours

Hazel Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioner surgeries in Salford offered extended opening times in  (a) 1997 and  (b) the latest date for which information is available.

Ann Keen: The information is not available in the format requested. The Department's latest published data shows that as at July 2009, in the Salford primary care trust area, 39 out of 53 general practitioner practices (73.6 per cent.) were offering extended opening hours to patients. The figure for the North West Strategic Health Authority is 71.3 per cent., and the figure for England is 77.1 per cent.
	 Source:
	Department of Health.

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department paid to the Government Car and Despatch Agency in each of the last five years; how much it has spent on such payments in 2009-10; and what proportion of such payments was made in respect of the Government Car Service.

Phil Hope: The Department has made the following payments to the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA). These totals exclude officials' cars.
	
		
			  (£) 
			 2005-06 56,997.91 
			 2006-07 59,505.72 
			 2007-08 61,588.42 
			 2008-09 118,665.57 
			 2009-10 104,357.14 
		
	
	The cost increase in 2008-09 was due to courier and taxi services previously supplied by another party being transferred to the GCDA contract, who provide a 'greener' service.
	Costs to Departments of officials' cars are reported annually to Parliament by my right. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport through written ministerial statement and are available in the Library.

Health Service: Feltham

Alan Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many and what percentage of suspected cancer patients resident in Feltham and Heston saw an NHS consultant within two weeks of referral in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many and what percentage of women resident in Feltham and Heston with suspected breast cancer saw a specialist within two weeks of referral in each year since 1997.

Gillian Merron: This information is not held in the format requested. This data is collected by national health service trust, for each quarter since 2001-02. The following table shows the number and percentage of patients seen within two weeks by a specialist following urgent general practitioner referral with suspected breast cancer and all suspected cancers at West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust.
	
		
			   Breast cancer  All cancers 
			   Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			  2001-02 
			 Q1 130 97.0 159 95.8 
			 Q2 141 90.4 163 90.6 
			 Q3 130 100.0 158 100.0 
			 Q4 121 100.0 151 99.3 
			  
			  2002-03 
			 Q1 117 100.0 164 98.8 
			 Q2 117 99.2 151 96.8 
			 Q3 126 100.0 163 100.0 
			 Q4 102 100.0 133 100.0 
			  
			  2003-04 
			 Q1 106 100.0 152 97.4 
			 Q2 131 100.0 203 95.8 
			 Q3 134 99.3 221 95.7 
			 Q4 144 100.0 278 99.3 
			  
			  2004-05 
			 Q1 136 100.0 224 100.0 
			 Q2 125 100.0 223 100.0 
			 Q3 149 100.0 230 100.0 
			 Q4 120 100.0 237 100.0 
			  
			  2005-06 
			 Q1 159 100.0 318 100.0 
			 Q2 132 100.0 288 100.0 
			 Q3 89 100.0 271 100.0 
			 Q4 115 100.0 270 100.0 
			  
			  2006-07 
			 Q1 114 100.0 291 100.0 
			 Q2 102 100.0 321 100.0 
			 Q3 123 100.0 350 100.0 
			 Q4 124 100.0 345 100.0 
			  
			  2007-08 
			 Q1 157 100.0 425 100.0 
			 Q2 128 100.0 387 99.5 
			 Q3 135 100.0 406 100.0 
			 Q4 166 100.0 420 100.0 
			  
			  2008-09 
			 Q1 156 100.0 498 99.6 
			 Q2 138 100.0 507 100.0 
			 Q3 142 100.0 500 100.0 
			 Q4 129 94.9 459 93.3 
			  
			  2009-10 
			 Q1 188 94.5 641 93.3 
			 Q2 151 92.1 578 92.8

Health Service: Feltham

Alan Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people resident in Feltham and Heston over  (a) retirement age and  (b) the age of 60 years are entitled to free eye tests.

Gillian Merron: From 1 April 1999, eligibility for national health service funded sight tests was extended to everyone aged 60 and over.

Health Services: Hemsworth

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on healthcare in Hemsworth constituency in each year since 1997.

Mike O'Brien: The information is not available in the format requested. However, the following table shows the amount spent on healthcare services by the Wakefield District Primary Care Trust (PCT) for the years shown.
	
		
			  £ 000 
			   Primary healthcare  Secondary healthcare  Other healthcare  Total healthcare 
			 2008-09 138,595 398,059 400 537,054 
			 2007-08 134,171 372,689 52,620 559,480 
			 2006-07 128,286 322,699 498 451,483 
			 2005-06 117,137 289,530 375 407,042 
			 2004-05 103,090 270,004 604 373,698 
			 2003-04 90,316 231,898 1,118 323,332 
			 2002-03 74,138 205,782 50 279,970 
			  Notes: 1. 2002-03 to 2008-09 are the only years for which information is available for the Wakefield District PCT. 2. The figures are taken from the audited summarisation schedules of Wakefield District PCT and its predecessor organisations. Wakefield District PCT was formed as part of the reconfiguration of PCTs in October 2006, following the merger of Eastern Wakefield PCT and the Wakefield West PCT. The figures provided for 2002-03 to 2005-06 are the sum of equivalent values in these two PCTs. 3. The figures represent the total primary, secondary and other healthcare purchased and provided for the PCT's resident population, with the exception of primary dental and general ophthalmic services since these costs are not directly attributed to PCTs on the basis of a patient's place of residence. 4. 'Other healthcare' as defined in the audited summarisation schedules includes expenditure for NHS trust impairments, plus grants to other bodies for health related capital projects under joint working arrangements.  Source:  Department of Health, audited summarisation schedules of Wakefield District PCT and its predecessor organisations.

Health Services: Older People

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many elderly people resident in Cumbria are in receipt of elderly care; and what the projected figure is of the number of people requiring elderly care in each year up to 2020;
	(2)  what steps his Department is taking to ensure that elderly people living in poverty have access to an equal standard of elderly care; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what assessment his Department has made of the effect of care charges on users of elderly care services  (a) in England,  (b) in Cumbria and  (c) amongst elderly people living in poverty.

Phil Hope: The number of people receiving social services, funded either partially or in full by Councils with Adult Social Services Responsibilities (CASSRs) in England is collected and published by the NHS Information Centre for health and social care from the Referrals, Assessments and Packages of Care return.
	Provisional data for the period 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009 shows that 13,500 adults aged 65 and over in Cumbria were in receipt of CASSR-funded services. Information on the numbers of people who fund their own care services is not collected centrally.
	The Department has not made projections of the number of older people who will require social services care in Cumbria in each year up until 2020. It has commissioned the Personal Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU) at the London School of Economics to make national projections of future demand for social care and associated expenditure. The PSSRU has projected an increase in numbers of older service users in England from approximately 880,000 in 2010 to approximately 1,050,000 in 2020; Forder and Fernandez, 2009, PSSRU discussion paper 2644, table 26-available on the PSSRU website at:
	www.pssru.ac.uk
	The Fair Access to Care Services (FACS) framework was introduced in 2003 to address inconsistencies across the country about who gets support, in order to provide a fairer and more transparent system for the allocation of social care services.
	At the heart of the FACS guidance is the principle that councils should operate just one eligibility decision for all adults seeking social care support. FACS introduced four bands of eligibility based on people's needs-Critical, Substantial, Moderate and Low. Once eligibility for social care has been established using these four bands, the council may then means test the individual and apply the local charging regime.
	The Department has been working with stakeholders to revise the FACS guidance in the context of Putting People First, in order to support councils to implement eligibility criteria for social care as fairly and consistently as possible. The Department carried out a consultation on the revised FACS guidance simultaneously with the publication of the Fairer Contributions guidance, in July 2009. The FACS guidance is integral to the assessment of a person's need for social care, while the Fairer Contributions Guidance is employed, where appropriate, once that assessment has been made. The revised FACS guidance will be published shortly.
	The regulations under the Personal Care at Home Bill, introduced to Parliament on 25 November 2009, would offer free personal care at home for 280,000 people with the highest care needs. An additional £130 million will provide 130,000 people with an active programme of reablement to ensure they regain their independence. This will build on the most innovative practices already adopted by many local authorities and primary care trusts. We have already begun engaging with local authority stakeholders to discuss the workings of the scheme, and councils are invited to respond to the consultation document, Personal Care at Home: a consultation on proposals for regulations and guidance. The consultation document is available in the Library.
	In April 2009, my right hon. Friend, the then Secretary of State for Health (Alan Johnson) asked Sir Ian Carruthers OBE, chief executive of NHS South West, and Jan Ormondroyd, chief executive of Bristol City Council, to undertake a review of age discrimination and age equality in the health and social care sector. They were asked to consider what health and social care organisations should do to ensure that people are not discriminated against by services because of their age. The review was set up to help health and social care organisations meet the ban on age discrimination and the new public sector equality duty in the Equality Bill.
	The consultation, Age Equality in Health and Social Care, is now live and includes the Government's response on the recommendations in the review that are not directly tied to the legislation.
	The consultation is concerned with action to be taken in England. However, the Equality Bill applies throughout Great Britain. The Scottish Executive and the Welsh Assembly Government are considering separately what action to take to prepare the NHS and social care in Scotland and Wales for implementation of the Equality Bill. There will also be a further consultation on a draft Legislative Order led by the Government Equalities office later in 2010.
	It is for councils to decide whether or not to set charges for non-residential social services. The legal basis is that charges generally should be 'reasonable', as set out in the Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications (HASSASSA) Act 1983. Should councils decide to charge for these services, this must be in accordance with statutory guidance issued by the Department, Fairer Charging Policies for Home Care and other non-residential Social Services.
	For service users in receipt of personal budgets, the Department's Fairer Contributions guidance provides councils with a model for calculating how much a person should contribute to their personal budget. It has been produced as a companion to the existing Fairer Charging guidance.
	Charging for residential care services is governed by regulations, which prescribe a national means test and a statutory system of charging, which councils must follow. Councils assess a person's ability to pay residential care charges according to the National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) Regulations 1992 and statutory guidance, the Charging for Residential Accommodation Guide. Copies of all regulations and guidance are available in the Library.
	No assessments have been made by the Department of the effects of care charges on users of social care services for older people in England, in Cumbria, or among older people living in poverty. However, all charging systems include safeguards to protect the least well-off from charges. Anyone with less than £23,000 in savings is entitled to apply for local authority assistance with the cost of their care.

Health Visitors: North West

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health visitors have been employed in each primary care trust in the North West in each year since 1997.

Ann Keen: The following table shows the number of health visitors employed in the North West Strategic Health Authority (SHA) area and each primary care trust in the North West SHA area at 30 September each year for available years since 1997.
	
		
			   Headcount for year 
			  Organisation:  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 North West SHA area 1,899 1,911 1,903 1,896 1,942 1,968 1,988 2,105 2,077 2,029 1,897 1,838 
			 Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 102 95 88 97 108 104 103 
			 Blackburn with Darwen PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 59 67 65 57 53 53 57 
			 Blackpool PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 47 49 52 53 53 54 61 
			 Bolton PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 72 75 75 76 78 80 76 
			 Bury PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 44 45 46 45 49 46 52 
			 Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 110 125 122 126 105 97 96 
			 Central Lancashire PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 122 129 135 140 139 115 101 
			 Cumbria Teaching PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 109 131 179 157 138 111 110 
			 East Lancashire Teaching PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 117 122 133 123 117 107 99 
			 Halton and St. Helens PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 69 67 75 77 62 64 71 
			 Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 63 63 59 59 60 61 78 
			 Knowsley PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 52 58 58 64 66 69 54 
			 Liverpool PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 133 131 123 121 101 108 103 
			 Manchester PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 110 111 112 121 135 138 125 
			 North Lancashire Teaching PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 64 58 61 58 60 61 89 
			 Oldham PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 28 38 67 69 61 60 51 
			 Salford PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 73 73 69 70 65 59 40 
			 Sefton PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 59 59 62 69 65 66 56 
			 Stockport PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 163 139 169 157 172 99 81 
			 Tameside and Glossop PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 70 73 72 63 76 75 68 
			 Trafford PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 63 71 69 63 60 56 52 
			 Warrington PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 60 57 47 47 47 45 50 
			 Western Cheshire PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 55 52 59 58 55 63 64 
			 Wirral PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 92 76 86 92 83 89 83 
			 n/a = Not applicable; PCTs not established until 2002.  Notes: 1. PCT figures have been mapped to their current organisational structure. 2. Data quality: workforce statistics are compiled from data sent by more than 300 national health service trusts and PCTs in England. The Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data. Processing methods and procedures are continually being updated to improve data quality. Where this happens, any impact on figures already published will be assessed but unless this is significant at national level, they will not be changed. Where there is impact only at detailed or local level this will be foot noted in relevant analyses.  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care-Non-Medical Workforce Census.

Health: Sunlight

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has commissioned research into the potential effects on health of low levels of sunlight in the UK relative to such levels in other countries.

Gillian Merron: The Department has not commissioned research of this kind and at present has no plans to do so.

Heroin: Overdoses

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of former prisoners died as a result of a heroin overdose within  (a) one week,  (b) one month and  (c) one year of their release from prison in the last three years.

Phil Hope: This information is not collected by the Department.

Home Care Services: Finance

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health under what budget headings he expects the estimated £2.7 billion of savings consequent on moving more care from hospital to home to be made.

Mike O'Brien: By 2013-14 we estimate that up to £2.7 billion a year can be saved in the national health service by transforming the care and lives of those with long term conditions and by reforming community services across the NHS. These are part of the £15-20 billion savings which we have said the NHS will deliver by 2013-14.
	£750 million savings are possible through driving down variation across the country by ensuring current best practice in terms of case management, care planning and self care support. A further £750 million savings are possible through reducing emergency admissions for people with long term conditions to the level of the best performing systems internationally. This raises the quality of care for patients and helps the NHS, provided the care is good enough and we intend to ensure it is.
	The remaining £1.2 billion is achievable through reforms to community services, driving improvements in the efficiency of community services, so that in all areas of the country efficiency levels meet those currently achieved by the best performing areas.

Hospitals: Admissions

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many emergency readmissions there were in each NHS trust in each year since 1997.

Mike O'Brien: The information available, based on information provided by the National Centre for Health Outcomes Development, is set out in a table which I have placed in the Library. Figures are given separately for the age groups 0-15 years and 16 years and above. The table also includes information on the standardised rate of emergency readmissions, defined as the number of emergency readmissions divided by the total number of hospital discharges, adjusted for the different case mix and age and sex of patients to allow a more valid comparison between different years or different provider units.

Hospitals: Admissions

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many emergency admissions relating to orthopaedic injuries there were in each primary care trust in England in  (a) November,  (b) December and  (c) January in each of the last five years.

Mike O'Brien: The information is not available in the format requested. Tables showing counts of finished admission episodes where the method of admission was emergency for episodes with a main consultant speciality of 'Trauma and Orthopaedics' separated by primary care trust of residence where the episode ended in months November, December and January from 2004-05 to 2008-09 have been placed in the Library.

Hospitals: Reviews

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has given to regional health authorities in England who are undertaking reviews of acute hospital sectors; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The Department, in conjunction with its key stakeholders, has issued a raft of helpful guidance to strategic health authorities in England who are considering or undertaking reviews of acute hospital sectors.
	It is the responsibility of the local national health service to plan, develop and improve health services according to the health care needs of the local population. The Department's 2008 publication-Leading Local Change-makes clear that any changes should be locally led, clinically driven and built upon a sound clinical case for change. A copy of the publication has already been placed in the Library.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the median waiting time for  (a) in-patient and  (b) out-patient treatment was for patients in York in each year since 1997.

Mike O'Brien: The following tables show the median inpatient and outpatient waiting times for the York Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and its predecessor trusts from 1997 to 2009.
	
		
			  Table 1: Inpatient waiting times 
			  Month ending  Median (weeks) 
			 March 1997 12.0 
			 March 1998 15.9 
			 March 1999 13.1 
			 March 2000 15.2 
			 March 2001 15.7 
			 March 2002 16.8 
			 March 2003 14.6 
			 March 2004 11.7 
			 March 2005 10.2 
			 March 2006 8.5 
			 March 2007 6.6 
			 March 2008 5.6 
			 March 2009 4.8 
			 December 2009 4.3 
			  Notes:  1. Inpatient waiting times are measured from decision to admit by the consultant to admission to hospital.  2. The figures show the median waiting times for patients still waiting for admission at the end of the period stated.  3. Median waiting times are calculated from aggregate data, rather than patient level data, and therefore are only estimates of the position on average waits.  Source:  Department of Health waiting list collections KH07 and MMRPROV. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Median outpatient waiting time for first outpatient appointment, patients seen in the year all specialties, provider organisations in the York area 
			  Inpatient waiting times for York Health Services Trust 1997 to 2009 
			  Financial year  Median (weeks) 
			 March 1997 5.9 
			 March 1998 6.6 
			 March 1999 8.4 
			 March 2000 8.9 
			 March 2001 6.9 
			 March 2002 6.1 
			 March 2003 6.4 
			 March 2004 6.4 
			 March 2005 6.4 
			 March 2006 5.4 
			 March 2007 3.2 
			 Notes:  1. Outpatient waiting times are measured from referral by the general practitioner to first outpatient appointment with a consultant.  2. The outpatient seen figures relate to the average wait for patients seen during the whole of each year.  3. Outpatient waiting times on this basis no longer available.  4. Median waiting times are calculated from aggregate data, rather than patient level data, and therefore are only estimates of the position on average waits.  Source:  Department of Health waiting list collections QM08. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Median outpatient waiting time for first outpatient appointment, patients still waiting at period end, all specialties, provider organisations in the York area 
			  Outpatient waiting times for York Health Services Trust 2005 to 2009 
			  Month ending  Median (weeks) 
			 March 2005 5.4 
			 March 2006 3.9 
			 March 2007 3.5 
			 March 2008 3.1 
			 March 2009 2.5 
			 December 2009 3.6 
			  Notes:  1. Outpatient waiting times are measured from referral by the general practitioner to first outpatient appointment to the consultant.  2. Full waiting list was only collected from 2004 so average waiting first outpatient times on this basis have only been available from then.  3. Median waiting times are calculated from aggregate data, rather than patient level data, and therefore are only estimates of the position on average waits.  4. Historically, since 1997, outpatient waiting times were collected based on numbers seen during the quarter.  5. In addition, data were collected on a 'still waiting' basis in the monthly return alongside the inpatient waiting times figures. However, unlike the inpatient figures, the full waiting list on outpatients, was not collected, just the long waiters. Therefore, it was not possible to calculate the average wait on this basis.  Source:  Department of Health Waiting List Collections QM08 and MMRPROV.

Mental Health Services

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been treated as an  (a) in-patient and  (b) out-patient for a mental health condition (i) in Leicester, (ii) in the East Midlands and (iii) nationally in each of the last five years.

Phil Hope: Information is available on the number of patients in contact with specialist mental health services who received inpatient treatment for a mental health condition. Data are also available on the number of people in contact with specialist mental health services who received consultant outpatient appointments for a mental health condition in each of the last five years for which data are available.
	Data have been collected in respect of inpatients and outpatients treated for a mental health condition by Leicestershire Partnerships National Health Service Trust, East Midlands Strategic Health Authority and in England between 1 April 2004 and 31 March 2009. This information is shown in the following table.
	The data should be used with caution as it does not record non-consultant led outpatient appointments, and it records patients who received both inpatient and outpatient treatment as inpatients only. The data therefore underestimates the total number of outpatient appointments recorded in each year.
	
		
			  Number of people in contact with specialist mental health services and who received NHS inpatient and outpatient appointments for a mental health problem in Leicester, East Midlands and in England between 2004-05 and 2008-09: male and female, all ages 
			2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust Inpatient 3,101 2,810 2,546 2,344 2,183 
			  Outpatient 11,291 11,887 12,237 12,438 13,631 
			 East Midlands Strategic Health Authority Inpatient 8,408 8,063 7,836 8,178 8,091 
			  Outpatient 36,153 43,616 45,859 45,812 44,926 
			 England Inpatient 114,435 111,088 106,561 105,719 102,571 
			  Outpatient 446,393 488,259 474,332 470,742 477,627 
			  Source:  NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care Mental Health Minimum Data Set 2004-2009 Annual Returns.

Mental Health Services

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people have been  (a) killed and  (b) seriously injured by a person who has received treatment for mental health reasons in the three years before the incident (i) in Leicester, (ii) in the East Midlands and (iii) nationally in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  how many people have been  (a) killed and  (b) seriously injured by a person who has received treatment for mental health reasons (i) in Leicester, (ii) in the East Midlands and (iii) nationally in each of the last 10 years;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of independent investigations commissioned relating to patients receiving treatment for mental health reasons  (a) in the East Midlands and  (b) nationally in each of the last five years;
	(4)  how many independent investigations commissioned relating to patients receiving treatment for mental health reasons have been commissioned  (a) in the East Midlands and  (b) nationally in each of the last five years.

Phil Hope: Precise data on the number of homicides or serious injuries in England committed by people with mental illness is not collected centrally. However, we estimate that every year over 1,300 mental health patients take their own lives and between 50 and 70 per year are involved in taking the lives of others.
	Nor does the Department collect data about homicide or serious injury committed by people with mental illness at local or regional levels. Strategic health authorities are responsible for commissioning independent investigations into adverse events in mental health services, including homicides committed by mental health service users. The Department does not collect routine information or cost data on such local investigations, and nor has there been a national estimate of their cost.

Mental Health Services

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many independent investigations commissioned relating to patients receiving treatment for mental health reasons there have been  (a) in Mid Bedfordshire constituency and  (b) England in each of the last five years.

Phil Hope: This information is not collected routinely by the Department, but is collected by strategic health authorities, who are responsible for commissioning independent investigations into patients with a mental illness.

Mental Health Services: Advocacy

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the level of access to independent mental health advocates by qualifying patients in  (a) Birmingham and  (b) England;
	(2)  which primary care trusts  (a) have and  (b) have not commissioned independent mental health advocate (IMHA) services; and if he will establish a national database of IMHA services.

Phil Hope: It is the duty of each primary care trust in England to make such arrangements as it considers reasonable to make available independent mental health advocates (IMHAs) for qualifying patients. The precise arrangements are a matter for local decision. The Department has no plans to establish a national database of IMHA services.

Mental Health Services: Prisons

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prisons have a  (a) resident and  (b) visiting psychiatrists and how often visiting psychiatrists visited the prison to which they are allocated in the last 12 months.

Phil Hope: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	The transfer of responsibility to primary care trusts for the commissioning of health services in prisons was completed in 2006. Health needs are based on a joint strategic needs assessment that informs the type and frequency of services provided in all prisons.

Mephedrone: Risk Assessment

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reports he has received of the progress of the European Commission's risk assessment of mephedrone.

Gillian Merron: The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) has issued a formal request to member states' National Focal Points for the collection of further information on mephedrone for an EMCDDA-Europol Joint Report due later this year.
	The UK's Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), are also conducting a review into the harms associated with mephedrone and other cathinones and has invited the UK National Focal Point to present evidence to this review on behalf of the EMCDDA. The ACMD will incorporate this evidence into its report and will advise Ministers accordingly.

Musgrove Park Hospital Taunton: Patients

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many appointments at Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton were cancelled by patients in the last 12 months.

Mike O'Brien: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the following table.
	
		
			  Outpatient appointments cancelled by the patient for Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, 2008-09 
			   Patient cancelled first appointment  Patient cancelled subsequent appointment  Total 
			 2008-09 5,299 11,945 17,244 
			  Notes: 1. Hospital Provider: hospital providers can also include treatment centres (TC). As the data is tabulated by healthcare provider, the figure for a national health service trust gives the activity of all the sites as one aggregated figure. The quality of TC returns are such that data may not be complete. Some NHS trusts have not registered their TC as a separate site, and it is therefore not possible to identify their activity separately. Data from some independent sector providers, where the onus for arrangement of dataflows is on the commissioner, may be missing. Care must be taken when using this data as the counts may be lower than true figures. 2. Data quality: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England and from some independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  Source:  HES, The NHS Information Centre for health and social care

Musgrove Park Hospital Taunton: Patients

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many private patients were treated at Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton in the last 12 months;
	(2)  whether Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton is expected to meet its target to abolish mixed sex accommodation by the end of 2010.

Mike O'Brien: The information requested is a matter for Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. We have written to Rosalinde Wyke, Chair of Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, informing her of the hon. Member's enquiry. She will reply shortly and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

Musgrove Park Hospital Taunton: Patients

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients' complaints were rectified by Patient Liaison and Advice Service Level at Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton in 2009.

Mike O'Brien: The information requested is not available centrally. The Patient Advice and Liaison Service is managed through the national health service at a local primary care trust (PCT) level. PCTs are required, as part of their annual report, to provide the relevant strategic health authority with complaints data.
	Such information as is available is in the following table.
	
		
			  Written complaints about hospital and community services by local resolution action within Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, England, as at 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009 
			Local resolution 
			   Total complaints  Concluded within 25 working days  Concluded outside  25 working days  Concluded outside 25 working days with consent  Concluded outside  25 working days without consent  Still being pursued 
			Percentage  Number 
			 Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust 459 62 283 171 130 41 5 
			  Note:  Local resolution is the first stage of the complaints procedure when front-line staff should aim to provide the fullest possible opportunity for investigation and resolution of the complaint, as quickly as is sensible in the circumstances. This definition is from the guidance for completing the returns that are sent to Trusts.   Source:  Information Centre for health and social care-workforce and community dataset K041a.

Musgrove Park Hospital Taunton: Patients

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many single occupancy rooms are available for patients at Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton.

Mike O'Brien: The information is not available in the format requested. However, the latest Estates Related Information Collection (ERIC) return data for 2008-09, indicates that the Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust declared 14 per cent. of the 620 available beds at Musgrove Park Hospital as being single bedrooms for patients use.
	 Note:
	ERIC defines percentage of single bedrooms for patients as a percentage of the total number of available beds that are single bedrooms provided for patient use.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration his Department gives to  (a) progression-free and  (b) overall survival factors in its health technology appraisals.

Mike O'Brien: The Department does not carry out health technology appraisals. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is an independent body responsible for the development of technology appraisal guidance and its Guide to the Methods of Technology Appraisal is available on its website at:
	www.nice.org.uk/aboutnice/howwework/devnicetech/technologyappraisalprocessguides/guidetothemethodsof technologyappraisal.jsp

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what medicines  (a) have been and  (b) are being appraised through the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence for supplementary advice for treatments extending life; which have met National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence criteria; what the outcomes were; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the impact of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's supplementary advice on the appraisal of end of life treatments in securing improved patient access to such treatments.

Phil Hope: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr. Lansley) on 8 February 2010,  Official Report, columns 713-14W.

Neuromuscular Services: West Midlands

Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with  (a) the West Midlands Specialised Commissioning Group and  (b) primary care trusts in the West Midlands on the implementation of the West Midlands Neuromuscular Strategy.

Ann Keen: No discussions have been held with the West Midlands Specialised Commissioning Group or primary care trusts in the west midlands on the implementation of the west midlands neuromuscular strategy.
	It is the responsibility of primary care trusts to ensure the provision of services for neuromuscular dystrophy patients in that region, including access to national health service funded muscular dystrophy care advisers.

NHS

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the NHS as the preferred provider of health services.

Mike O'Brien: The policy on national health service as preferred provider is about getting the best care for patients and looking after the NHS staff who care for them. It represents a clarification of Government policy to ensure that where services provided within the public sector are performing well, are financially sustainable and also demonstrating the ability to keep improving there should be no presumption that these services are subject to competitive tender. When competitive tender does occur, it will be transparent and fair with all providers having an equal opportunity to bid, potentially in new partnerships and joint ventures.
	The aim is to ensure that NHS staff are treated fairly and engaged in decisions, so that they know what is happening and when, and what changes are being sought and why. Service improvement and re-design should not be something which is imposed on NHS staff but something which they own and lead. Clinical engagement and leadership will be crucial to driving the transformation of services patients and taxpayers need.
	Secretary of State's Vision document NHS 2010-2015: From Good to Great and the NHS Operating Framework 2010/11 outline how we expect the NHS as preferred provider to work in practice. Copies of both documents have already been placed in the Library.

NHS Direct

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many referrals were made by NHS Direct services in  (a) 2008 and  (b) 2009.

Mike O'Brien: The information requested is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Referrals from NHS Direct (0845 46 47) 
			   Referrals 
			 2008 1,982,544 
			 2009 1,735,473 
			  Note:  These data include all calls to the 0845 46 47 line. It does not include other calls to services provided to national and local commissioners, including calls to The Appointments Line and locally commissioned services such as dental and out-of-hours services.  Source:  NHS Direct.

NHS Peterborough: Finance

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assistance his Department has provided to NHS Peterborough to reduce their budget deficit for 2010-11; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Department has not provided any financial support to Peterborough Primary Care Trust (PCT) to reduce its forecast deficit. The PCT held an extraordinary board meeting on 3 February where the Month 9 forecast deficit was reported as £9.8 million.
	The East of England Strategic Health Authority (SHA) reports that it has agreed a robust recovery plan with the PCT and is closely monitoring progress against the agreed plan. The Department will work with the SHA to ensure that the PCT returns to financial balance.

NHS: Drugs

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2010,  Official Report, column 558W, on drugs: testing, if he will commission research on the comparative  (a) safety and  (b) effectiveness of (i) human biology-based testing and (ii) animal testing of new drugs and treatments.

David Lammy: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills does not commission research directly but provides funding to the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) through the research councils.
	The NC3Rs has a number of projects which assess the value of animal research in drug development and safety testing. For example, an evidence-based review of conventional single dose acute toxicity studies for pharmaceuticals has shown that they provide limited information for human safety. Based on these data the regulatory requirement to carry out these studies prior to clinical trials has been removed.
	The Medical Research Council's (MRC) own research programmes contribute to developing new knowledge or methods that help replace or refine animal use.
	The MRC invests substantially in drug safety science including the new MRC Centre for Drug Safety Science in Liverpool and Manchester, the MRC's Toxicology Unit in Leicester, and the Integrative Toxicology Training programme. The aims include evaluation of the potential contribution of new technologies to the pre-clinical toxicological assessment of drugs and integration of the results with the findings from clinical studies.

NHS: Expenditure

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the expenditure envelope for the NHS in England is for the next five years.

Mike O'Brien: As set out in paragraph 6.23, page 103 of the pre-Budget report 2009, the Government have not done a spending review at this stage, and therefore, the specific numbers requested in the question are not available.

NHS: Fees and Charges

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS has collected in charges for services to patients not entitled to free services in each year since such charges were introduced; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: Charges have been in place since 1982 for hospital treatment given to certain overseas visitors to the United Kingdom, but these statistics have only been collected since 2003-04. The total national income from overseas patients under non-reciprocal arrangements collected by national health service trusts and primary care trusts since that time is shown in the following table. They do not include data from NHS foundation trusts.
	
		
			   Non-reciprocal income received (£) 
			 2003-04 9,178,000 
			 2004-05 10,883,000 
			 2005-06 13,070,000 
			 2006-07 15,182,925 
			 2007-08 18,167,000 
			 2008-09 17,541,000

NHS: Foreign Workers

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of non-UK citizens working for the NHS in England; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: This data is not collected centrally.

NHS: Marketing

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on advertisements on television and commercial radio on NHS services since 2005.

Phil Hope: The following table shows the Department's television and radio advertising expenditure for the national health service over the last five completed financial years.
	
		
			  Department of Health television and radio advertising spend on NHS services 2004-05 to 2008-09 
			  £ million 
			  Financial year  Television  Radio 
			 2004-05 14,116,855 2,613,818 
			 2005-06 12,729,415 3,151,003 
			 2006-07 8,017,017 1,800,547 
			 2007-08 8,065,615 1,998,611 
			 2008-09 12,757,306 3,061,050 
			 2009-10 15,825,050 5,061,356 
			  Notes:  1. Advertising spend is defined as covering only media spend (inclusive of agency commissions but excluding production costs, Central Office of Information (COI) commission and VAT). All figures exclude advertising rebates and audit adjustments and therefore may differ from COI official turnover figures. All figures are rounded to the nearest £10,000. These figures do not include the Department's recruitment/classified advertising costs and ad hoc spend under £10,000. These figures may include occasional minor spend through COI by NHS organisations, to supplement national campaigns in their area. While this expenditure has been excluded as far as possible so that this chart reflects central departmental spend, it would incur disproportionate cost to validate that every item of NHS expenditure has been removed.  2. 2009-10 figures are provisional until records are audited at the end of the financial year.

NHS: Procurement

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of a system of reverse e-auctions, weighted toward lowest price, for the procurement of NHS medical products in ensuring high standards of  (a) safety and  (b) quality of products procured.

Mike O'Brien: In 2008-09 NHS Supply Chain conducted 54 reverse auctions, which resulted in estimated savings of 15 per cent. on previous tender prices.
	As with the standard tender process, all medical products are checked for safety and quality before they are entered into a reverse auction. Medical products in a reverse auction are the same as those available in the standard tender process.
	We are not aware of any formal assessment of the effectiveness of the system of reverse auctions for the procurement of national health service medical products.

NHS: Training

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish guidance on commissioning skills for the NHS.

Mike O'Brien: The world class commissioning (WCC) programme was launched in December 2007 and is intended to strengthen the commissioning capability of primary care trusts (PCTs) to improve local health outcomes at best value for current and future service users. The competencies for world class commissioning were first published in December 2007 and refreshed in September 2009. They set out the knowledge, skills, behaviours and characteristics that underpin effective commissioning. PCTs are held to account on their commissioning performance through an annual assurance process. A copy of the WCC Assurance Handbook year 2, which details the competencies, has been placed in the Library and is available at:
	http://wcc.networks.nhs.uk/background

Nurses

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has made an estimate of the number of registered nurses who were in receipt of benefits in each month for the last five years.

Jim Knight: I have been asked to reply.
	The information is not available.

Nurses: Feltham

Alan Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses were employed in the area covered by Hounslow Primary Care Trust in  (a) 1997 and  (b) the latest period for which figures are available.

Gillian Merron: The information requested is displayed in the following table.
	
		
			  National health service hospital and community health services: Qualified nursing staff in each specified organisation as at 30 September each year 
			  Headcount 
			   2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Hounslow Primary Care Trust (PCT) 292 303 300 286 265 269 249 
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 213 208 221 200 190 190 184 
			 General Practitioner Practice Nurses 79 95 79 86 75 79 65 
			 
			 West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust 820 817 857 765 815 888 904 
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 820 817 857 765 815 888 904 
			  Note: Due to the formation of PCTs in 2002 it is impossible to accurately map work force figures for these organisations prior to 2002.  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care Non-Medical Workforce Census.

Nurses: Nottinghamshire

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many qualified school nurses there are employed in schools in  (a) Bassetlaw constituency and  (b) Nottinghamshire local authority.

Ann Keen: The information is not held in the format requested. Information is available for the number of qualified nursing staff in the school nursing area of work directly employed by national health service organisations. The following table shows the number of qualified nursing staff in the school nursing area of work in Bassetlaw Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Nottinghamshire County PCT.
	
		
			  NHS hospital and community health services, qualified school nursing 
			  Headcount 
			   Nurses in each specified organisation as at 30 September 2008 
			   Qualified nurses in school nursing  Of which qualified school nurses( 1) 
			 Total for specified organisations 21 3 
			 Bassetlaw PCT 3 0 
			 Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT 18 3 
			  Notes:  1. Qualified school nurses hold the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) specialist practice qualification with an outcome in school nursing, which is a recordable qualification on the NMC register.  2. The NHS Hospital and Community Health Services non-medical workforce census is a large statistical exercise, collecting over one million records from over 400 organisations. It is not, and is not intended to be, carried out to exact accounting standards.  Source:  The Information Centre for health and social care: Non-Medical Workforce Census.

Patients

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to encourage appropriate self-care by patients in treatment of minor ailments;
	(2)  what steps his Department is taking to educate patients on circumstances where  (a) self-care is appropriate in the treatment of a minor ailments and  (b) it is appropriate to seek medical advice.

Mike O'Brien: Community pharmacies are very accessible to patients and the public and have a key role to play in supporting self-care-providing advice and support to people requesting help with the treatment of minor ailments, illnesses and injuries. This includes advising on the use of over-the-counter treatments, where appropriate, and when medical advice should be sought. The White Paper, Pharmacy in England: Building on strengths-delivering the future, aims to increase pharmacies contribution to supporting effective self-care and make better use of the range of skills and services available in pharmacies.
	NHS Choices and NHS Direct also offer facilities, such as online symptom checkers and self-assessment tools, to help people understand where self-care is appropriate in the treatment of minor when they should seek advice from medical professionals.

Prescription Drugs

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 1 February 2010,  Official Report, columns 64-5W, on prescription drugs, what legal advice his Department sought in preparing the elements of the partial impact assessment relating to professional liability and automatic generic substitution; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Legal advice from the Department of Health Legal Services did inform the formulation of the consultation document on generic substitution, and the partial impact assessment relating to the proposals, but there are no specific elements in the partial impact assessment relating to professional liability.
	Under the Department's preferred approach (option 3), there are mechanisms for ensuring that patients continue to receive the most appropriate treatment. Therefore, we believe the liability risks associated with the proposed generic substitution arrangements should not be any greater than under current prescribing and dispensing arrangements We recognise that further evidence may be available in relation to liability; stakeholders can input views through responding to the consultation in writing-details at
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/consultations/index.htm
	or by attending one of the consultation events-more information at
	www.pcc.nhs.uk/events/

Prescriptions

Christopher Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prescriptions for  (a) goserelin,  (b) leuprorelin acetate,  (c) buserelin acetate,  (d) triptorelin,  (e) bicalutamide,  (f) flutamide,  (g) cyproterone acetate and  (h) diethylstilbestrol there were in (i) England, (ii) each primary care trust area and (iii) each constituency in each year since 1997.

Mike O'Brien: The information requested has been placed in the Library, apart from constituency information, which is not collected centrally.
	The tables provide the number of prescription items dispensed in the community by primary care trust (PCT) and nationally. Usage in hospital is not collected at prescription level, and usage cannot be attributed to particular PCTs.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of those with a diagnosis of asthma were exempt from paying prescription charges in the latest period for which figures are available.

Mike O'Brien: The Department does not hold information on the numbers of patients prescribed particular drugs or for what conditions those drugs are prescribed.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date the age at which men are entitled to free prescriptions will rise in line with the increase in the state retirement age for women; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The age at which people qualify for free prescriptions will change to reflect changes to the state pension age for women. We are considering how best to implement those changes and will not be introducing any changes to age exemptions in April 2010.

Primary Care Trusts

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will extend the deadline before which primary care trusts must name their preferred option for their future organisational structure for the purposes of his Transforming Community Services programme to a date later than the end of March 2010;
	(2)  what factors he took into account in determining the timetable for the Transforming Community Services programme; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: There are no plans to extend the deadline set in the NHS Operating Framework 2010-11 for primary care trusts (PCTs) to agree their proposals for the future organisational form of all current PCT-provided community services with their strategic health authority.
	When determining the timetable for planning and implementing proposals for the future form of PCT-provided community services, the Department took account of the need to create greater stability within community services to provide certainty for community service staff and a firm foundation for service transformation. Consideration was given to the pivotal role community services play in helping the national health service to meet the productivity and quality challenge. This will enable the NHS to accelerate service integration to deliver the vision of more integrated care delivered closer to home, as set out in NHS 2010-2015: from good to great. Preventative, people-centred, productive.
	The Operating Framework 2010-11 and NHS 2010-2015: from good to great. Preventative, people-centred, productive have already been placed in the Library and are also available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/index.htm

Primary Care Trusts: Procurement

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account his Department's guidance on primary care trust procurement takes of the policy on preferred providers of health services.

Mike O'Brien: The PCT Procurement Guide for Health Services first published in May 2008 applies to all national health service-funded healthcare procurement. Primary care trusts as commissioners are expected to comply with this guidance as part of their obligations in the Operating Framework published in December 2007. The PCT Procurement Guide is currently being revised to take account of developments since 2008.
	The Secretary of State's Vision document NHS 2010-2015: From Good to Great and the NHS Operating Framework 2010/11 outline how we expect the NHS as preferred provider to work in practice. Copies of both documents have already been placed in the Library.

Primodos

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has made an estimate of the number of people there are in England who have been adversely affected by the drug Primodos.

Mike O'Brien: Reports of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are collected by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Commission for Human Medicines (CHM) through the spontaneous reporting scheme; the yellow card scheme. Approximately 25,000 reports of ADRs are reported to the MHRA/CHM through this scheme each year. The scheme collects ADR reports from across the whole United Kingdom and includes all medicines, including those from prescriptions, over-the-counter or general retail sales. It is not possible to calculate from yellow card data the number of people who have been adversely affected by a drug, as the scheme is associated with an unknown level of under-reporting.
	Reporters of ADRs will often cite the active substance(s) rather than a particular brand name. As of 12 February 2010, there are three retrospective cases for Primodos and 3,540 that have been recorded in our database for the combined drug substances norethisterone and ethinylestradiol.

Primodos

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to assess the needs of those adversely affected by Primodos; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: We have made no assessment. It is for local clinicians and multi-disciplinary teams to assess the health and care needs of people adversely affected by Primodos.

Prostate Cancer: Health Services

Christopher Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) mean and  (b) median waiting time was for patients with a diagnosis of prostate cancer as an (i) in-patient and (ii) out-patient (A) in England and (B) in each NHS trust was in each year since 1997-98.

Ann Keen: Information on the mean and median time waited to be seen as an in-patient, for the first out-patient attendance where there was a primary diagnosis of prostate cancer, with figures provided for England and by hospital provider has been placed in the Library.

Prostate Cancer: Health Services

Christopher Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) mean and  (b) median length of an in-patient hospital stay was for patients with a diagnosis of prostate cancer (i) in England and (ii) in each NHS trust was in each year since 1997-98.

Ann Keen: Information on the mean and median length of stay for patients by NHS hospital provider for each year since 1997-98 where the primary diagnosis was prostate cancer has been placed in the Library.

Prostate Cancer: Health Services

Christopher Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) mean and  (b) median referral-to-treatment waiting time has been for patients with a diagnosis of prostate cancer (i) in England and (ii) in each NHS trust in each month since January 2007.

Ann Keen: Statistics on average waiting times for cancer patients and average waiting times specifically for prostate cancer treatment are not collected centrally. The cancer waiting time standard of a maximum wait of 62 days from urgent referral for suspected cancer to first cancer treatment was introduced for all cancer patients from December 2005. In the last quarter for which figures are available (July to September 2009) national performance against this standard was 85.7 per cent.

Streptococcus: Pregnancy

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what guidance his Department issues to strategic health authorities on the availability of tests to pregnant women for Group B streptococcus infection;
	(2)  how many infant deaths were due to (a) early and (b) late onset Group B streptococcus infection in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence clinical guidelines for routine antenatal care, published in 2008, recommends that pregnant women should not be offered routine antenatal screening for group B streptococcus because evidence of its clinical and cost-effectiveness remains uncertain.
	The following table provides the number of infant deaths where there was mention of streptococcus, group B. It is not possible to determine onset of infections but numbers are presented for the neonatal and post-neonatal periods. In 2008, there were 3,281 infant deaths in total, 2,260 occurred in the neonatal period and 1,021 occurred in the post-neonatal period.
	
		
			  Number of infant deaths where there was mention of streptococcus group B( 1) , for England and Wales, 2008( 2) 
			   Number of deaths 
			 Neonatal(3) 26 
			 Postneonatal(4) 3 
			 Infant(5) 29 
			 (1 )Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Deaths were included where there was mention of streptococcus group B (corresponding ICD-10 codes are shown in Box 1). (2) Figures for 2008 are provisional. (3) Neonatal deaths under 28 days after live birth. (4) Post-neonatal deaths at least 28 days but under one year after live birth. (5) Infant deaths under a year after live birth. 
		
	
	
		
			  Box 1. ICD-10 codes used to define infant deaths due to Group B streptococcus infection 
			  Description  ICD-10 
			 Septicaemia due to streptococcus, group B A40.1 
			 Pneumonia due to streptococcus, group B J15.3 
			 Congenital pneumonia due to streptococcus, group B P23.3 
			 Sepsis of newborn due to streptococcus, group B P36.0

Strokes: Health Services

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to improve the provision of needs-based services to support stroke survivors and their carers in the long-term; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The National Stroke Strategy recommends that local action is needed to ensure that stroke features in local joint health needs assessments so that primary care trusts and local authorities can shape their local commissioning priorities accordingly. The Stroke Improvement Programme and the stroke networks are disseminating across the service good practice for needs-based services that has already been developed in some areas. In addition, local authorities are benefiting from £45 million over three years in ring-fenced grants to improve support services to adult stroke survivors and their carers in the community.

Strokes: Health Services

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to require the provision of appropriate stroke-specific training for care home staff.

Ann Keen: It is the responsibility of individual social care employers to ensure that their staff are adequately trained for the role that they perform. However, we recognise that stroke survivors in care homes have particular needs and are currently considering what steps we can take to improve stroke specific training for care home staff.

Strokes: Health Services

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to raise  (a) public and  (b) professional awareness of (i) risk factors for stroke and (ii) effective primary prevention measures at individual, family, community and societal levels; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The Department has run a series of campaigns to raise both public and professional awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle in reducing the risk of a number of diseases, including stroke. These include Change 4 Life, which is aimed at reducing obesity, Smokefree marketing to motivate people to stop smoking and direct them to national health service information and support and a jointly branded campaign with our stakeholders, including the Stroke Association, about the unseen damage that drinking can cause to long-term health. The link between alcohol and stroke was one of the key messages.

Strokes: Health Services

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on public health measures to reduce exposure to risk factors for stroke in each of the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: This information is not available. The Department invests in a number of primary prevention measures to help people across different socio-economic groups address risk factors that are commonly associated with a number of diseases, including stroke. These help people to stop smoking, maintain a healthy weight, moderate their alcohol consumption and participate in more physical activity. For example, we are working across Government to make two million adults more physically active by 2012 and phasing in the implementation of the NHS Health Check programme that is designed to reduce an individual's risk of a number of vascular diseases including stroke.

Strokes: Health Services

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to develop community-based stroke prevention services with the voluntary sector, the NHS and local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The National Stroke Strategy recognises the importance of educating people about the risk of stroke and associated prevention measures. It asks that local assessments should be made of how effectively areas are supporting healthier lifestyles and taking action to tackle vascular risk including hypertension, atrial fibrillation and high cholesterol.
	Phased implementation of the NHS Health Check programme began in April 2009. This programme is designed to reduce an individual's risk of a number of vascular diseases including stroke. Primary care trusts (PCTs) are responsible for commissioning. The programme has been designed so that it can be delivered from a variety of settings and by different providers where they have undergone appropriate training. PCTs may, therefore, use a range of providers, including the third sector, to deliver the programme.

Strokes: Health Services

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department plans to implement the National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of transient ischaemic attack and minor stroke; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: Implementation of the 'Diagnosis and initial management of acute stroke and transient ischaemic attack (TIA)' guidance is the responsibility of local commissioners and providers. It is the responsibility of commissioners in consultation with their providers to procure the stroke services for their populations.

Strokes: Health Services

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department will issue guidance to ambulance services on the agreement of stroke protocols with hospitals with acute and hyper-acute stroke units.

Ann Keen: We are not planning to issue such guidance. The Royal College of Physicians' Stroke Sentinel Audit of 2008 showed that there has been a striking improvement in the number of protocols ambulance services have for the management of stroke patients. It shows that between 2006 and 2008 the percentage of primary care trusts having arrangements with their local ambulance service for emergency/rapid transfer to hospital for specialist acute stroke care services has risen from 12 per cent. to 49 per cent. It is the responsibility of the NHS locally to develop these arrangements.

Strokes: Health Services

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department will issue guidance on the treatment of stroke as an emergency, with particular reference to appropriate access to brain scanning and thrombolysis and immediate admission to an acute stroke unit.

Ann Keen: The National Stroke Strategy recommends that everyone who can benefit from urgent stroke care should be transferred to an acute stroke centre that provides 24-hour access to scans and care in a specialist stroke unit.
	The 2009 National Sentinel Audit of stroke undertaken by the Royal College of Physicians shows that the number of stroke units providing thrombolysis is increasing and that the provision of these services out of hours remains a challenge. Local stroke care networks have been established to assist in improving the delivery of stroke services. This includes working with health care professionals to ensure urgent admission to an acute stroke unit, timely access to scanning and the provision of thrombolysis where appropriate. All hospitals provide CT scanning and most provide MRI and carotid doppler and the Department published an imaging guide in 2008, to help ensure that imaging services develop in line with the quality markers in the National Stroke Strategy.
	To further encourage improvements in stroke care, in April 2010 we will introduce a Best Practice Tariff for stroke which incentivises direct admission to a stroke unit and timely brain imaging. We will continue to improve care for stroke patients by ensuring that more patients, for whom there is potential benefit, have a brain scan within one hour of their admission. However, thrombolysis can only be delivered safely by experienced teams. Hospitals should not aim to provide thrombolysis before the associated components of the service are functioning well and are of high quality. It is not be appropriate, therefore, for every hospital to deliver a thrombolysis service.

Strokes: Health Services

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to provide for every patient with stroke to be treated in a high quality stroke unit for the duration of their hospital treatment.

Ann Keen: The National Stroke Strategy recognises that stroke unit care is the single biggest factor that can improve a person's outcome following a stroke. We have, therefore, made this a top priority for the national health service. The tier 1 vital sign in the NHS Operating Framework aims to ensure that, by March 2011, 80 per cent. of patients with stroke spend at least 90 per cent. of their time in hospital on a stroke unit. This recognises that there are times when a patient, for clinical reasons, might need to spend time in the care of others outside a stroke unit.

Strokes: Health Services

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to require all stroke units to meet the criteria set out in clinical stroke guidelines and by the British Association of Stroke Physicians.

Ann Keen: The National Stroke Strategy sets out twenty quality markers outlining the features of a good stroke service. In developing the strategy, we consulted experts in the field and used the most up-to-date clinical guidelines, including those from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and the nine key indicators used in the Royal College of Physicians' National Sentinel Stroke Audit.

Strokes: Health Services

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department will issue guidance on the  (a) appropriate knowledge and skills relating to stroke and  (b) appropriate training in stroke for all NHS staff working in emergency and acute care.

Ann Keen: Standard setting for the knowledge and skills required of those working with stroke patients is for the relevant professional bodies. It is for local areas to review, plan for and develop a stroke-skilled work force. Standard setting also guides commissioners on the criteria against which to judge services that they will commission.
	The Department set up the UK Forum for Stroke Training through which the Stroke Specific Education Framework has been developed. This framework reflects the elements of the stroke care pathway from prevention through to long-term care which will facilitate links between training, education, work force competences and professional development. It aims to build on the generic skills that health, social, voluntary and independent care staff already possess through the clear identification of additional stroke-specific knowledge and skills. Its purpose is to ensure quality in stroke care by supporting stroke specialist and stroke relevant career pathways and course design and promoting recognised and transferable training and qualifications.

Strokes: Health Services

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding has been allocated under the National Stroke Strategy to each local authority in Tyne and Wear; and in which years those allocations were  (a) made and  (b) spent on each (i) project and (ii) service.

Ann Keen: Ring-fenced grants are being provided to all 152 local authorities in England over the three years 2008-09 to 2010-11 for the provision of support services to adult stroke survivors and their carers in the community. The ring-fenced grants total £45 million over the three years which means that each local authority receives an average of £100,000 a year. A local authority circular has been issued that sets out the kind of services that these grants might be used to fund. Annex B of the circular also lists the funding allocated to local authorities. The local authority circular can be found at the following web address:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Lettersandcirculars/LocalAuthorityCirculars/AllLocalAuthority/DH_098601
	The Department does not collect information on how local authorities spend these grants.

Strokes: Mental Health

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list  (a) the causes of (i) stroke, (ii) dementia and (iii) depression and  (b) the proportion of cases attributable to each such factor in the last 12 months.

Ann Keen: The information on the causes of stroke, dementia and depression is not held centrally.
	There are many causes of stroke, dementia and depression and this information is widely available in the public domain for example, the NHS Choices website lists the causes for stroke, dementia and depression on its website:
	www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Pages/bodymap.aspx

Surgery

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations were conducted in each strategic health authority area in England in each of the last three years.

Mike O'Brien: The number of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) where a main procedure or intervention was performed, broken down by strategic health authority (SHA) of treatment for the years 2006-07 to 2008-09 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  SHA  SHA of  t reatment  2008-09  2007-08  2006-07 
			  Total  9,274,423 8,606,493 7,888,074 
			 Q30 North East SHA 572,040 531,912 491,678 
			 Q31 North West SHA 1,394,767 1,294,042 1,143,980 
			 Q32 Yorkshire and the Humber SHA 981,160 902,896 840,971 
			 Q33 East Midlands SHA 700,812 664,188 616,908 
			 Q34 West Midlands SHA 991,949 909,925^ 876,376 
			 Q35 East of England SHA 913,552 848,822 778,642 
			 Q36 London Strategic SHA 1,403,602 1,304,337 1,206,929 
			 Q37 South East Coast SHA 654,067 605,049 551,229 
			 Q38 South Central SHA 611,945 575,613 505,462 
			 Q39 South West SHA 1,050,513 969,707 875,898 
			 Q99 Wales 16 2 0 
			 Y Unknown 0 0 1 
			  Notes: 1. FCE is a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. Figures do not represent the number of different patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different stays in the same year. 2. The main procedure is first recorded procedure or intervention in each episode, usually the most resource intensive procedure or intervention performed during the episode. In some cases a patient may undertake more than one procedure as part of the same episode. The data does not include the number of secondary procedures undertaken at the same time as the main procedures. 3. SHA of treatment indicates the strategic health authority where the treatment took place. 4. Where Wales is shown as the SHA of treatment, the figure relates to patients who were treated by an English independent provider who also have sites in Wales, where these treatments took place.  Source:  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care

Surgery: Operating Costs

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the net cost to the NHS per theatre hour used was of each operating theatre in England in each of the last five years.

Mike O'Brien: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Teenage Pregnancy

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pregnancies of girls aged between 15 and 19 years there were in each of the last 30 years; and what assessment he has made of trends in the level of such pregnancies.

Angela Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Dennis Roberts, dated February 2010:
	The Director General for the Office for National Statistics has been asked to reply to your recent question asking the Secretary of State for Health, how many pregnancies of girls aged between 15 and 19 years there were in each of the last 30 years; and what assessment has been made of trends in the level of such pregnancies. (317966) I am replying in his absence.
	The table attached provides the statistics that are available on a consistent basis and follows the standard way of presenting these data. The table gives the number of conceptions among girls aged (a) under 16, (b) 16-19 years and (c) under 20, and rates of conceptions for (d) under 16 and (e) under 20, for England and Wales for 1987 to 2007 (the most recent year for which figures are available). Figures specifically for girls aged between 15 and 19 years could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	Figures on conceptions are estimates based on the number of live births, stillbirths or legal abortions. They do not include miscarriages and illegal abortions. Prior to 1987, a woman's age at conception was calculated on a different basis and therefore it is not possible to accurately compare the level of conceptions prior to 1987 against levels in subsequent years.
	Rates have been included in the table provided as rates take account of changes in population sizes and therefore provide a better measure of the proportion of women who conceive each year.
	
		
			  Conceptions( 1)  to women aged (a) under 16 years( 2)  and 16-19 years( 2)  in England and Wales( 3) , 1987-2007( 4) 
			   Number of conceptions (thousand)  Rate per 1,000( 5) 
			   Age of woman at conception  Age of woman at conception 
			  Year  (a) Under 16( 6)  (b) 16-19 years( 6)  (c) Under 20( 6)  (d) Under 16( 6)  (e) Under 20( 6) 
			 1987 8.6 112.7 121.3 8.8 65.2 
			 1988 8.3 110.6 118.9 8.8 65.8 
			 1989 8.0 107.7 115.7 8.9 66.8 
			 1990 8.1 105.2 113.3 9.5 68.0 
			 1991 7.5 94.1 101.6 8.9 64.1 
			 1992 7.2 86.2 93.4 8.4 61.9 
			 1993 7.3 79.9 87.2 8.1 59.7 
			 1994 7.8 77.6 85.4 8.3 58.7 
			 1995 8.1 78.5 86.6 8.6 58.7 
			 1996 8.9 86.0 94.9 9.5 63.2 
			 1997 8.3 87.7 96.0 8.9 62.6 
			 1998 8.5 93.1 101.6 9.0 65.1 
			 1999 7.9 90.9 98.8 8.3 63.1 
			 2000 8.1 89.6 97.7 8.3 62.5 
			 2001 7.9 88.1 96.0 8.0 60.8 
			 2002 7.9 89.2 97.1 7.9 60.6 
			 2003 8.0 90.6 98.6 7.9 60.0 
			 2004 7.6 93.7 101.3 7.5 60.3 
			 2005 7.9 94.4 102.3 7.8 60.1 
			 2006 7.8 95.3 103.1 7.8 60.2 
			 2007 8.2 98.1 106.3 8.3 61.7 
			 (1 )Figures on conceptions are based on the number of live births, stillbirths or legal abortions. They do not include miscarriages and illegal abortions. (2) Age at estimated date of conception. (3) Women usually resident in England and Wales. (4) Years for which the method used for estimating woman's age at conception was consistent. 2007 is the most recent year for which figures are available. (5) Number of conceptions to women under 16 per 1,000 female population aged 13-15 and to women under 20 per 1,000 female population aged 15-18. (6 )Data have been published in groups-'under 16' and 'under 20'. Due to small numbers 'under 16' has been included as a group. Age 16-19 was calculated by subtracting the 'under 16' figure from the 'under 20'.

Urology: Health Services

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what guidance his Department has issued to  (a) primary care trusts and  (b) regional procurement hubs in ensuring that commissioning arrangements for the provision of urology and stoma devices take account of the outcomes of the most recent Part IX review consultation;
	(2)  what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the use of local tenders and product formularies for urology products does not affect the availability of Part IX products to patients who gain access to them through the prescription process;
	(3)  what mechanisms his Department plans to put in place to ensure consistency in the use of local tenders and product formularies for urology products and services in primary care, with particular reference to the outcomes of the most recent Part IX review consultation.

Stephen Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment has been made of the effects on levels of competition in the urology industry of the development of local primary care trust tenders for the provision of urology products and services; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment has been made of the effects on patient choice of the increasing use of tenders and formularies in primary care for urology and stoma products and services; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what his Department is doing to ensure that the use of local primary care trust tenders and product formularies for urology products does not prevent patients being able to access their choice of Part IX products via the normal prescription process; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Any decisions to undertake local procurement activity rests with the national health service organisations that initiate them.
	Following the review of the supply of certain appliances for primary care, as listed in part IX of the Drug Tariff, new arrangements were announced in April 2009 and the relevant amendment regulations were laid on 22 December 2009. These are accompanied by directions to provide for new advanced services. There will also be changes to the Drug Tariff from 1 April 2010 to take account of associated new fees and allowances and a reduction of reimbursement prices for some appliances.
	The Department is in ongoing dialogue with industry, industry trade federations, collaborative procurement hubs and primary care trusts (PCTs) over the use of local tenders and product formularies for products and services covered by part IX of the Drug Tariff. The aim of this dialogue is to agree clear guidance for PCTs on this matter.
	The Department is not aware of any ongoing local tenders for part IX products. Any local procurement or tenders do not override the clinical judgment of the GP, who is still free to prescribe products listed in part IX of the Drug Tariff to meet the specific needs of patients.

CABINET OFFICE

10 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 27 October 2009,  Official Report, column 251W, on 10 Downing Street, how purchase orders for expenditure on renovation and refurbishment are  (a) authorised and  (b) electronically held; how quotations are obtained in advance of work on renovation and refurbishment; and how the Total Facilities Management Provider is reimbursed for expenditure on renovation and refurbishment over and above routine maintenance.

Dawn Butler: All expenditure incurred by the Cabinet Office is procured and authorised in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in 'Managing Public Money' and the Treasury handbook on 'Regularity  Propriety'. The departmental guidance is available to all staff on the Cabinet Office intranet.
	Only staff with the appropriate delegated financial authority may authorise Cabinet Office expenditure.

Central Office of Information: Marketing

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the  (a) title and  (b) notional budget is of each advertising and marketing campaign co-ordinated through the Central Office of Information in 2009-10.

Angela Smith: I have asked the chief executive of the Central Office of Information to write to the hon. Member.
	 Letter from Mark Lund, dated 8 February 2010:
	regarding Government Campaigns co-ordinated through COI.
	This information is not held centrally within COI and could only be made available at disproportionate cost.
	Campaigns for the current year may not, at present, have the final title and release of such information may be misleading.
	Budgets for campaigns are not held by COI but by the commissioning department.
	Accurate information for the current financial year will only be published once the annual accounts have been fully audited.

Central Office of Information: Marketing

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office with reference to the Central Office of Information press release of 11 December 2009, on the merchandising and promotional items framework, how much the Central Office of Information has spent on promotional food and drink products in each of the last three years; what suppliers were used; and on behalf of which public bodies promotional food and drink was procured.

Angela Smith: I have asked the chief executive of the Central Office of Information to write to the hon. Member.
	 Letter from Mark Lund, dated 8 February 2010:
	regarding the Merchandising and Promotional Framework.
	The only company used for promotional products included in the new framework, in each of the last 3 financial years, was Sweet Concepts ltd. This was prior to the start of the specific framework mentioned.
	Promotional products were purchased on behalf of the following clients;
	British Transport Police
	Health and Safety Executive
	Home Office
	Learning and Skills Council
	University for Industry
	Royal Air Force
	Dept of Health
	Police Information Technology Organisation.
	
		
			   Total (£) 
			 2006-07 22,303.80 
			 2007-08 11,666.99 
			 2008-09 7,417.00

Charities

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will request the Charity Commission to require charities which have been found by the Commission to have raised money for a purpose outside their charitable objects to post information to this effect on their website and to indicate the steps they are taking to return such donations to the donors.

Angela Smith: The Charity Commission is an independent non-ministerial Government Department responsible for the support and supervision of charities in England and Wales under the Charities Acts 1993 and 2006. The Charity Commission is not subject to ministerial direction or control, and it would not be appropriate for me to make such a request. However, I have made the Charity Commission aware of your concerns.
	A charity should take immediate action if it realises that it has made an appeal outside of its purposes. Where possible, it would be necessary for the charity running the appeal to contact the donors to clarify the basis on which they made their donation. The next steps would depend on the circumstances of the appeal and should be taken in consultation with the Charity Commission.

Charities

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps the Charity Commission is taking to ensure that charities file their accounts with the Commission within the prescribed timescales.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Charity Commission. I have asked the Commission to reply.
	 Letter from Andrew Hind, dated 11 February 2010:
	As the Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, I have been asked to respond to your written Parliamentary Question on what steps the Charity Commission is taking to ensure that charities file their accounts with the Commission within the prescribed timescales (317184).
	To ensure that charities file their accounts within the prescribed time limit the Commission:
	issues reminders by letter or email three months and one month prior to the submission deadline;
	makes telephone contact with charities with income in excess of £5 million if they do not respond to written reminders;
	clearly highlights any failure to submit accounts on the online public Register of Charities.
	These measures are supported by periodic press campaigns, most recently the Commission's File on Time campaign launched in February 2010.
	Charities that fail to comply may be subject to enforcement action or may be removed from the Register if it appears that they are no longer operating.
	The percentage of charities filing accounts on time has risen from 66% in 2006 to 81% in the year to January 2010. In 2008-9, 94% of the sector's income was accounted for in annual accounts filed within the ten month deadline.
	I hope this is helpful.

Civil Servants: Manpower

Francis Maude: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people were employed by  (a) local government,  (b) central government,  (c) public corporations and  (d) the Civil Service in (i) 1996 and (ii) the latest period for which figures are available.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Dennis Roberts, dated January 2010:
	The Director General for the Office for National Statistics has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many people were employed by (a) local government, (b) central government, (c) public corporations and (d) the Civil Service in (i) 1996 and (ii) the latest period for which figures are available. I am replying in his absence. (312186)
	Estimates of employment for the public sector are taken from the ONS release on Public Sector Employment at
	www.statistics.gov.uk
	Data for the Quarterly Public Sector Employment Survey (QPSES) is collected on a quarterly basis; the latest date for which information is available is September 2009 (Annex A).
	
		
			  Annex A: Employment in (a) local government, (b) central government, (c) public corporations and (d) the Civil Service in  (i) 1996 and (ii) the latest period for which figures are available 
			  United Kingdom; Headcount (thousands); Not seasonally adjusted 
			   Local Government  Central Government( 1)  Public Corporations( 2)  Civil Service( 1) 
			 1996 2,737 2,144 394 538 
			 2009 Q3 2,901 2,596 565 533 
			 (1) Home Civil Service (excludes Northern Ireland Civil Service which is included in Central Government). (2) Royal Bank of Scotland Group and Lloyds Banking Group classified to public sector from 13 October 2008.  Source: Office for National Statistics

Death: Alcoholic Drinks

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 8 February 2010,  Official Report, column 800W, on death: liver diseases, how many alcohol-related deaths there were in the latest year for which figures are available, excluding deaths with an underlying cause of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis that do not mention alcohol as a contributing factor.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated February 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question pursuant to the Answer of 8 February 2010, Official Report, column 800W, on death: liver diseases, how many alcohol-related deaths there were in the latest year for which figures are available, excluding deaths with an underlying cause of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis that do not mention alcohol as a contributing factor. (317565)
	Figures provided in the previous Answer were the number of deaths with an underlying cause of (a) chronic liver disease and (b) cirrhosis, and the number of cases where alcohol is also mentioned on the death certificate as a contributing factor, in England and Wales, in 2008 (the latest year available) (Table 1).
	According to the National Statistics definition, there were 7,344 deaths with an alcohol-related underlying cause in England and Wales in 2008 (the latest year available).(1, 2, 3)
	The causes of death included in the previous Answer for chronic liver disease are not all included within the National Statistics definition of alcohol-related deaths. The causes listed for cirrhosis are included both in the causes for chronic liver disease and in the National Statistics definition. The causes of death previously given for chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, conditions which mention alcohol and the National Statistics alcohol-related deaths definition are listed below in Box 1.
	Of the 6,514 deaths where chronic liver disease was the underlying cause of death in England and Wales in 2008,(4, 2, 3) 6,320 are included within the National Statistics definition of alcohol-related deaths (Figure 1).(5) Of these, there were 4,781 deaths where alcohol was mentioned on the death certificate as a contributing factor, and 1,539 deaths where there was no explicit mention of alcohol (Figure 2).(6)
	There were 5,805 deaths with an alcohol-related underlying cause, excluding deaths where the underlying cause was chronic liver disease (within the National Statistics definition) and alcohol was not mentioned on the death certificate as a contributing factor, in England and Wales, in 2008.(2, 3)
	This figure was derived by subtracting the number of deaths where chronic liver disease (within the National Statistics definition) was the underlying cause of death and there was no mention of alcohol on the death certificate (1,539) from the total number of alcohol-related deaths (7,344).
	Internationally accepted guidance from the World Health Organisation requires only those conditions that contributed directly to the death to be recorded on the death certificate. Medical practitioners and coroners are not supposed to record all of the diseases or conditions present at or before death, and whether a condition contributed is a matter for their clinical judgement. Lifestyle and behavioural factors, such as the deceased's alcohol consumption, are not recorded.
	Although not all deaths coded to liver disease and cirrhosis include a mention of alcohol on the death certificate, most are included in the official definition of alcohol-related deaths on the assumption that many of them were caused by alcohol, even if this was not explicitly stated.

Death: Cancer

Christopher Fraser: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what the age-standardised mortality rate from prostate cancer was in  (a) England,  (b) each primary care trust area and  (c) each constituency in each year since 1997-98;
	(2)  how many deaths from prostate cancer there were in  (a) England,  (b) each primary care trust area and  (c) each constituency in each year since 1997-98.  [Official Report, 15 March 2010, Vol. 507, c. 16-18MC.]

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated February 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent questions asking (1) what the age-standardised mortality rate from prostate cancer was in (a) England, (b) each primary care trust area and (c) each constituency in each year since 1997-98 (317707) and (2) how many deaths from prostate cancer there were in (a) England, (b) each primary care trust area and (c) each constituency in each year since 1997-98. (317708)
	The tables attached provide:
	(1) The age-standardised mortality rate per 100,000 population, where prostate cancer was the underlying cause of death, for (a) England, for the years 1997 to 2008 (the latest year available) (Table 1), (b) primary care organisations in England, for the years 2001 to 2008 (the only period available) (Table 2), and (c) parliamentary constituencies in England, for the years 2001 to 2007 (the only period available) (Table 3).
	(2) The number of deaths where prostate cancer was the underlying cause of death, for (a) England and (b) primary care organisations in England, for the years 1997 to 2008 (the latest year available) (Tables 4 and 5), and (c) parliamentary constituencies in England, for the years 1997-02 and 2003-08 combined (the only periods available) (Table 6).
	A copy of Tables 2, 3, 5 and 6 have been placed in the House of Commons Library.
	Mortality rates for primary care organisations and parliamentary constituencies can only be calculated for the periods given due to the availability of mid-year population estimates. Numbers of deaths for parliamentary constituencies have not been given for individual years in line with the current ONS policy on protecting confidentiality within birth and death statistics.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of deaths where breast cancer was the underlying cause of death, England and Wales, 2008( 1, 2, 3) 
			  Cause of death  Deaths (persons) 
			 Breast cancer 10,779 
			 (1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code C50. (2) Figures for England and Wales include deaths of non-residents. (3) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.

Death: Drugs and Alcoholic Drinks

Chris Grayling: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what information her Department holds for benchmarking purposes on the death rates in respect of  (a) drug and  (b) alcohol abuse in other EU member states.

Gillian Merron: I have been asked to reply.
	Information on drug abuse and alcohol abuse deaths is collected by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
	Deaths related to drug poisoning in England and Wales, 2008, is the latest available information on drug misuse deaths and was published by ONS in August 2009. A copy has been placed in the Library. It provided drug misuse death data by gender, age group, time and by specific drugs.
	On behalf of the four United Kingdom health departments, we provide UK drug related death information to the European Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). The EMCDDA receives drug related death information from all European Union member states and some other European countries and publishes this data annually as a statistical bulletin available from the EMCDDA website:
	http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/
	though there are limitations on the comparability of data from different states.
	Alcohol-related deaths in the United Kingdom 1991-2008, is the latest available information on alcohol-related deaths and was published by ONS in January 2010. A copy has been placed in the Library.
	European data on selected alcohol-related causes of death per 100,000 of population is held by the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe on the European 'health for all' online database:
	http://data.euro.who.int/hfadb/
	Although this can be a helpful indicator for ranking countries by alcohol related mortality, it is important to note that it does not include all known alcohol-related causes of death and is not directly comparable with ONS alcohol-related death data.

Death: Fuel Poverty

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate she has made of the number of excess winter deaths of persons aged 65 or over attributable to fuel poverty in January 2010.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated 9 February 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what was the number of excess winter deaths of persons aged 65 or over attributable to fuel poverty in January 2010. (316862)
	Estimates of excess winter deaths are based on the difference between the number of deaths during the four winter months (December to March) and the average number of deaths during the preceding four months (August to November) and the following four months (April to July). Provisional estimated figures for excess winter mortality in the winter period 2009/10 will be published in November 2010.
	It is not possible to say from the information collected at death registration whether excess winter deaths are attributable to fuel poverty or any other social or economic circumstances.

Departmental Air Travel

Mark Harper: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much the Leader of the House's Office spent on  (a) first class and  (b) business class flights in the last 12 months.

Angela Smith: Provision of a complete and accurate response would require a full interrogation of the corporate travel contract management information, Government Procurement Card (GPC) records and expenses claims for the period requested. This would therefore incur disproportionate costs.
	However, since 1999, the Government have published a list of all overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing over £500. Information for the financial year 2008-09 was published on 16 July 2009,  Official Report, column 66-70WS. All travel by Ministers is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code.

Departmental Art Works

Francis Maude: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which works of art from the Government Art Collection are on display in  (a) No. 10 Downing Street and  (b) the Prime Minister's personal residence; and which other works of art have been on display at each such location since June 2007.

Angela Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 9 June 2008,  Official Report, column 94W. A list of the works of art will be deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.

Departmental Consultants

Mark Harper: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether the Leader of the House's Office has had any contracts with external consultants in 2009-10.

Angela Smith: Up until 31 January 2010, the Leader of the House's Office did not have any contracts with external consultants in 2009-10.

Departmental Energy

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the estimated  (a) amount and  (b) cost was of energy used in her Department and its agency in each year since 1997; what proportion of the energy used was generated from renewable sources in each of those years; and if she will make a statement.

Dawn Butler: The information requested by is in the following table. This information covers the Cabinet Office's central London estate. Information prior to 2005-06 is available only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			   Annual consumption (kWh)  Cost of utilities (£)  Percentage of renewable energy 
			 2005-06 17,485,892 1,502,409 43.2 
			 2006-07 16,682,196 1,608,105 45.7 
			 2007-08 14,808,607 1,422,722 50.2 
			 2008-09 16,384,746 2,232,021 60.0 
			 2009-10 (to date) 11,774,435 1,256,662 67.1

Departmental Information Officers

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many staff in  (a) her Department,  (b) the Charity Commission and  (c) the Central Office of Information (i) have the status of embedded communicators and (ii) are members of the Government Communications Network but are not listed in the Central Office of Information White Book.

Dawn Butler: Cabinet Office currently has no staff with the status of embedded communicators.
	To provide information on how many members of Cabinet Office staff are members of the GCN but not listed in the White Book could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	I have asked the chief executives of the Charity Commission  (b) and the Central Office of Information  (c) to write in reply to the hon. Member's question.
	 Letter from Andrew Hind, dated 3 February 2010:
	As the Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, I have been asked to respond to your Parliamentary Question regarding how many of our staff (i) have the status of embedded communicators and (ii) are members of the Government Communications Network but are not listed in the Central Office of Information White Book. I will arrange for a copy of this letter to be placed in the Library of the House.
	We have no employees with the status of embedded communicators. There are two Charity Commission employees who are members of the Government Communications Network (GCN) but not listed in the current edition of the White Book. The post of Head of Corporate Affairs is listed in the current edition of the White Book as being filled by someone who is no longer in the role. Therefore the current postholder, a member of the GCN, is not listed by name in the White Book. In addition, our Internal Communications Manager is a member of the GCN but this post is not listed in the White Book.
	I hope this is helpful.
	 Letter from Mark Lund, dated 2 February 2010:
	asking how many staff in the Central Office of Information (i) have the status of embedded communicators and (ii) are members of the Government Communications Network but are not listed in the Central Office of Information White Book.
	(i) COI has no staff defined as embedded communicators.
	(ii) This information is not available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Mass Media

Francis Maude: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office with reference to the answer of 20 July 2009,  Official Report, column 1040W, on departmental publications, if she will place in the Library hard copy print outs of the daily online news service bulletin for the period from 1 January 2010 to date.

Dawn Butler: The Cabinet Office provides a staff intranet which has a main news story that changes frequently. The audience is internal Cabinet Office staff. Personal details of staff appear in these internal news stories on the understanding that they will be used for internal purposes only. Printing copies and placing them in the Libraries of the House, or other 'public' areas, would infringe staff privacy.

Departmental Pay

Lee Scott: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much has been paid in bonuses to civil servants in the Office of the Leader of the House in each year since 2003.

Angela Smith: The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons is an integral part of the Cabinet Office.
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 10 February 2010,  Official Report, column 1061W.

Departmental Pay

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many  (a) year end and  (b) in-year bonuses were paid to officials in the Prime Minister's Office in each of the last three years; and how much was paid in such bonuses in each such year.

Angela Smith: The Prime Minister's Office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office.
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Ilford, North (Mr. Scott) on 10 February 2010,  Official Report, column 1061W.

Life Expectancy: Salford

Hazel Blears: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the average life expectancy was for  (a) women and  (b) men in Salford in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2009.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the average life expectancy was for (a) women and (b) men in Salford in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2009. (317395)
	Life expectancy figures are calculated as three year rolling averages. The table below provides the period life expectancy at birth for (a) women and (b) men in Salford local authority, for (i) 1996-98 and (ii) 2006-08 (the latest figures available).
	
		
			  Table 1: Period life expectancy at birth( 1) , Salford local authority( 2) , 1996-98 and 2006-08( 3) 
			  Years of life 
			   Males  Females 
			 1996-98 72 77 
			 2006-08 75 79 
			 (1 )Period life expectancy at birth is an estimate of the average number of years a newborn baby would survive if he or she experienced the area's age-specific mortality rates for that time period throughout his or her life. The figure reflects mortality among those living in the area in each time period, rather than mortality among those born in each area. It is not therefore the number of years a baby born in the area in each time period could actually expect to live, both because the death rates of the area are likely to change in the future and because many of those born in the area will live elsewhere for at least some part of their lives.  (2) Using boundaries as of 2009 for all the years shown.  (3 )Three year rolling averages, based on deaths registered in each year and mid-year population estimates.

Lobbying: Registration

Francis Maude: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what timetable she has set for the lobbying industry to develop a voluntary register of lobbying activity.

Angela Smith: I refer the right hon. Member to my response during the debate on lobbying in Westminster Hall on 7 January 2010.

Media Monitoring Unit

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office with reference to the answer of 3 December 2009,  Official Report, column 975W, on Media Monitoring Unit, what the difference is between the subscribers referred to as the Cabinet Office and Cabinet Office Communications; and which subscriber incurred the £25,200 of expenditure referred to.

Angela Smith: I have asked the chief executive of the Central Office of Information to write to the hon. Member.
	 Letter from Mark Lund, dated 8 February 2010:
	asking for clarification on the Media Monitoring Unit.
	The MMU provides in-depth news briefings for press officers, policy officials and Ministers across all government departments, the public sector and regional public bodies.
	The subscription information listed for Cabinet Office included all work carried out on their behalf.
	The Information listed as Cabinet Office Communications was work carried out on behalf of another department.
	The subscription listed as blank has already been included in the subscription for a department within the table and should be disregarded.

New Businesses: Feltham

Alan Keen: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many businesses have started up in Feltham and Heston constituency since 1997.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated 9 February 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many businesses have started up in Feltham and Heston constituency since 1997.
	Annual statistics on business births, deaths and survival are available for 2002 onwards from the ONS release on Business Demography at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk
	The table below contains the latest statistics available on business births for Feltham and Heston.
	
		
			  Enterprise births for Feltham and Heston 2002 to 2008 
			   Total 
			 2002 356 
			 2003 421 
			 2004 431 
			 2005 496 
			 2006 436 
			 2007 411 
			 2008 455

Part-time Employment: Working Mothers

Maria Miller: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate she has made of the proportion of women with children who worked fewer than 16 hours a week in each year since 1997.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated February 2010 :
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on the proportion of women with children who worked fewer than 16 hours a week in each year since 1997. (317140)
	The information requested is given in table 1 attached. The figures are from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) household datasets for the three months ending June for each year requested.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty as different samples give different results. Table 2 shows the percentage and confidence interval for the three months ending June 2009. This is to give an indication as to the accuracy of the most recent estimate, and how much it could vary if taken from a different sample. The estimate is such that there is 95 per cent certainty that from all samples possible it will lie within the lower and upper bounds.
	
		
			  Table  1 :  Percentage of working age( 1)  mothers with dependent children( 2)  who worked fewer than 16 hours( 3)  a week ,  United Kingdom , not seasonally adjusted April to  June 1997-2009 
			   Percentage( 4) 
			 1997 14.8 
			 1998 14.5 
			 1999 14.2 
			 2000 13.4 
			 2001 12.3 
			 2002 11.9 
			 2003 11.9 
			 2004 11.5 
			 2005 10.4 
			 2006 10.5 
			 2007 10.4 
			 2008 9.2 
			 2009 9.3 
			 (1) Women aged 16 to 59.  (2) Children under 16 and those aged 16-18 who have never married and in full-time education.  (3) Total usual hours worked in main job (excluding overtime), excludes those not in employment.  (4) Denominator is all working age women with dependent children.   Source:  LFS household datasets. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Percentage of working age( 1)  mothers with dependent children( 2)  who worked fewer than 16 hours( 3)  a week with 95 per cent.  c onfidence  i nterval( 4)  United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted April to June 2009 
			   Percentage( 5)  Lower CI  Upper CI 
			 2009 9.3 8.8 9.7 
			 (1) Women aged 16 to 59.  (2) Children under 16 and those aged 16-18 who have never married and in full-time education.  (3) Total usual hours worked in main job (excluding overtime), excludes those not in employment.  (4) 95 per cent. confidence interval which means that from all samples possible there would be 95 per cent. certainty that the true estimate would lie within the lower and upper bounds.  (5) Denominator is all working age women with dependent children.   Source:  LFS household datasets.

Prostate Cancer

Christopher Fraser: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the  (a) age-standardised incidence rate for prostate cancer and  (b) number of diagnoses of prostate cancer was in (i) each strategic health authority area, (ii) each primary care trust area and (iii) each constituency in each year since 1997.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the (a) age-standardised incidence rate for prostate cancer and (b) number of diagnoses of prostate cancer was in (i) each strategic health authority area, (ii) each primary care trust area and (iii) each constituency in each year since 1997.
	The latest available figures for newly diagnosed cases of prostate cancer (incidence) are for the year 2007. Please note that these numbers may not be the same as the number of people diagnosed with cancer, because one person may be diagnosed with more than one cancer.
	Cancer incidence rates for strategic health authorities can only be calculated from 2002 onwards and for primary care organisations and parliamentary constituencies from 2001 onwards due to the availability of mid-year population estimates for those areas.
	The number of cases in parliamentary constituencies has not been given for individual years in line with policy on protecting confidentiality within patients' data.
	The tables attached provide the age-standardised incidence rate per 100,000 population, for prostate cancer, for (i) strategic health authorities in England, for the years 2002 to 2007 (Table 1), (ii) primary care organisations in England for the years 2001 to 2007 (Table 2), and (iii) parliamentary constituencies in England for the years 2001 to 2007 combined (Table 3), the number of diagnoses (incidence) for prostate cancer for (i) strategic health authorities in England and (ii) primary care organisations in England, for the years 1997-2007 (Tables 4 and 5), and (iii) parliamentary constituencies in England for the years 1997-02 and 2003-07 combined (Table 6).
	A copy of Tables 2, 3, 5 and 6 has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
	
		
			  Table 1 :  Age-standardised incidence rates per 100,000 population, prostate cancer, strategic health authorities in England, 2002-07( 1,2,3,4) 
			  Cases per 100,000 (males) 
			   2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 North East 90 97 86 93 86 86 
			 North West 88 90 108 101 104 96 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 89 89 101 96 101 97 
			 East Midlands 84 82 94 99 101 99 
			 West Midlands 102 102 109 104 105 97 
			 East of England 99 95 99 101 100 99 
			 London 96 96 98 93 95 94 
			 South East Coast 88 88 92 89 93 91 
			 South Central 110 107 116 99 106 99 
			 South West 110 112 116 104 110 108 
			 (1 )Age-standardised incidence rates per 100,000 population, standardised to the European Standard Population. Age-standardised rates are used to allow comparison between populations which may contain different proportions of people of different ages.  (2 )Prostate cancer is coded as C61 in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10).  (3) Based on boundaries as of 2009.  (4 )Based on newly diagnosed cases registered in each calendar year. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 4: Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of prostate cancer, males, strategic health authorities in England, 1997-2007( 1,2,3) 
			  Males 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 North East 897 1,066 1,234 1,249 1,415 1,404 1,499 1,365 1,471 1,385 1,394 
			 North West 2,555 2,627 2,846 3,107 3,657 3,533 3,631 4,400 4,177 4,329 4,058 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 1,860 1,825 1,940 2,394 2,664 2,647 2,697 3,059 2,944 3,129 3,064 
			 East Midlands 1,465 1,531 1,751 1,971 2,152 2,185 2,147 2,528 2,672 2,809 2,793 
			 West Midlands 2,091 2,252 2,415 2,741 3,096 3,254 3,299 3,547 3,427 3,516 3,305 
			 East of England 2,275 2,276 2,630 2,974 3,257 3,367 3,309 3,459 3,579 3,623 3,611 
			 London 2,614 2,673 2,766 2,832 3,133 3,172 3,160 3,252 3,089 3,133 3,117 
			 South East Coast 2,098 2,008 2,254 2,331 2,501 2,368 2,380 2,498 2,408 2,546 2,555 
			 South Central 1,488 1,648 1,831 2,071 2,398 2,401 2,373 2,619 2,262 2,463 2,348 
			 South West 2,641 2,537 2,698 2,886 3,638 3,813 3,899 4,095 3,752 4,022 3,956 
			 (1 )Prostate cancer is coded as C61 in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10).(  2) Based on boundaries as of 2009.(  3 )Based on newly diagnosed cases registered in each calendar year.

Unemployment

James Clappison: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many economically inactive people of working age wanted employment in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated February 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many economically inactive people of working age wanted employment in the most recent year for which figures are available. (317339)
	Estimates of economic inactivity are available from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). In accordance with the International Labour Organization (ILO) definition, people are classed as economically inactive if they are neither in employment nor unemployed.
	The most recent estimates are for the three-month period September-November 2009 and show that 2.308 million seasonally adjusted economically inactive people of working age wanted a job. This estimate comprises those who have not been looking for work in the last four weeks, but who say they would like a regular paid job, plus those who have been looking for work but who were unable to start within two weeks.
	These estimates are published in Table 13 of the Labour Market Statistical Bulletin.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty. Indications of the sampling variability of LFS aggregate estimates are provided in the Statistical Bulletin.

Unemployment: Kingston upon Thames

Edward Davey: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the unemployed claimant count in  (a) the Royal Borough of Kingston and  (b) Kingston and Surbiton constituency was in (i) 1997, (ii) 2005 and (iii) 2009.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated February 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the unemployed claimant count in (a) the Royal Borough of Kingston and (b) Kingston and Surbiton constituency was in (i) 1997 (ii) 2005 and (iii) 2009. (317717)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles the number of claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) from the Jobcentre Plus administrative system. Table 1 shows the number of people resident in the London borough of Kingston upon Thames and Kingston and Surbiton parliamentary constituency claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) in December 2009, December 2005 and December 1997.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of persons claiming jobseeker's allowance resident in the London borough of Kingston upon Thames and Kingston and Surbiton parliamentary constituency 
			  As at December:  Kingston upon Thames  Kingston and Surbiton 
			 1997 2,009 1,559 
			 2005 1,464 1,157 
			 2009 2,403 1,896 
			  Source: Jobcentre Plus Administrative System

Unemployment: North West

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office for how long on average claimants aged between 18 and 24 years resident in each local authority area in the North West were in receipt of jobseeker's allowance in  (a) each of the last 12 months and  (b) each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated February 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking for how long on average claimants aged between 18 and 24 years resident in each local authority area in the North West were in receipt of jobseeker's allowance in (a) each of the last 12 months and (b) each of the last five years. (317206)
	The number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) is taken from the Jobcentre Plus administrative system. The length of a claim has been defined as the time between the start of an individual's claim and the count date in each reference month. Table 1 shows the median length of live claims during the last 12 months up to the latest available period in December 2009, and for December of each of the last 5 years.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
	
		
			  Table 1: Median length of claims of jobseeker's allowance of persons( 1)  aged 18 to 24 resident in local authorities in the North West 
			  Months 
			   December  2009 
			   2004  2005  2006  2007  2008  Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sept  Oct  Nov  Dec 
			 Allerdale 8.4 9.8 9.5 9.9 8.7 10.1 10.8 11.4 11.9 13.9 13.6 9.8 9.1 9.1 8.1 9.8 11.1 
			 Barrow-in-Furness 9.3 10.9 11.3 10.7 9.7 10.9 9.2 10.3 10.7 11.9 10.1 8.8 9.4 10.6 10.3 10.3 9.7 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 6.9 8.3 9.3 6.0 8.7 9.7 9.2 9.5 10.4 12.0 12.1 10.7 9.2 9.5 9.0 9.6 9.9 
			 Blackpool 6.6 7.3 7.9 7.1 6.0 8.0 8.6 9.4 11.0 12.4 12.0 10.9 10.4 9.6 9.1 8.4 7.6 
			 Bolton 7.5 12.0 11.2 9.6 9.1 9.6 9.7 10.3 11.3 12.7 12.5 11.5 11.6 11.9 12.3 13.7 15.5 
			 Burnley 5.8 7.0 9.7 7.1 8.1 8.1 8.6 10.3 10.9 12.2 11.8 11.1 9.5 9.0 9.0 9.1 9.5 
			 Bury 6.8 7.7 9.8 8.1 8.4 9.4 9.1 9.9 10.6 12.1 12.9 11.4 11.0 11.0 11.0 11.8 12.7 
			 Carlisle 8.2 10.0 8.5 6.9 7.8 7.9 7.4 9.6 10.6 11.3 11.9 10.3 8.9 9.4 9.3 9.6 9.8 
			 Cheshire East 8.2 8.0 8.5 8.5 8.0 9.2 8.4 9.4 10.6 12.3 12.6 10.8 9.0 9.9 10.0 10.1 9.9 
			 Cheshire West and Chester 8.0 9.7 9.3 8.0 7.8 8.2 8.1 9.7 11.1 12.6 12.6 10.6 9.0 9.7 9.0 9.8 10.0 
			 Chorley 6.9 9.1 9.7 8.0 7.0 7.8 8.7 9.9 10.6 12.1 11.7 9.7 9.2 9.5 8.2 8.9 10.3 
			 Copeland 8.6 15.0 11.4 10.3 9.7 10.3 11.0 11.9 12.4 13.1 12.9 11.6 10.9 10.1 8.5 9.6 10.2 
			 Eden 8.0 9.0 5.7 6.0 4.8 6.5 5.6 7.9 9.2 10.5 10.9 9.1 6.8 8.9 10.4 9.0 9.5 
			 Fylde 9.2 6.5 6.0 6.4 5.5 6.5 6.0 8.6 10.6 10.7 10.1 9.0 7.1 7.9 7.8 6.8 7.8 
			 Halton 8.4 8.9 8.9 7.6 8.3 9.4 10.3 10.9 11.8 13.8 13.1 11.4 11.2 11.5 11.2 10,8 10.6 
			 Hyndburn 7.1 6.9 6.8 8.2 7.8 8.5 8.1 8.9 10.5 11.9 11.0 10.1 10.3 9.9 8.1 8.9 9.1 
			 Knowsley 10.0 10.6 10.8 10.5 10.0 11.5 11.2 11.4 12.0 13.5 13.9 11.7 10.8 10.7 10.3 10.4 10.6 
			 Lancaster 8.0 7.6 9.7 8.7 7.9 9.2 8.3 9.1 10.1 11.8 11.5 10.1 9.6 10.0 8.8 9.7 10.1 
			 Liverpool 13.0 13.6 14.5 13.3 11.7 12.6 12.4 12.7 13.2 15.5 15.7 14.3 12.9 12.6 12.2 12.2 12.6 
			 Manchester 10.6 10.4 11.5 9.8 9.7 10.5 9.7 10.1 10.8 12.1 12.1 10.5 10.1 10.8 11.4 12.4 14.4 
			 Oldham 7.7 9.8 10.0 8.9 8.3 8.7 8.7 10.3 11.1 12.4 12.1 11.0 10.7 10.9 11.8 13.0 14.0 
			 Pendle 6.3 6.6 8.7 6.9 7.7 9.2 9.5 9.0 9.9 11.4 11.3 9.0 8.7 9.6 8.7 9.5 10.0 
			 Preston 9.8 10.5 10.0 10.0 9.1 9.7 8.3 9.0 10.1 12.0 12.2 10.8 10.4 10.2 10.1 10.7 10.6 
			 Ribble Valley 6.0 5.0 6.8 5.7 6.9 8.0 6.8 7.5 9.7 11.3 10.8 7.6 7.2 7.7 7.8 7.0 8.7 
			 Rochdale 8.9 9.5 11.0 10.0 9.5 9.2 9.8 11.2 12.2 13.8 13.8 12.6 12.7 12.4 14.1 16.0 17.3 
			 Rossendale 8.0 7.5 7.0 8.1 7.7 8.4 9.0 10.0 11.8 13.2 14.2 11.7 10.3 10.5 9.4 10.4 10.8 
			 Salford 10.1 9.5 12.5 9.7 8.5 9.6 9.5 9.5 10.6 11.7 11.9 10.8 9.7 10.1 10.5 12.2 13.6 
			 Sefton 10.6 11.1 11.0 10.8 10.8 11.3 10.8 11.5 12.3 14.3 14.1 12.7 12.1 11.9 12.0 12.1 12.9 
			 South Lakeland 6.0 7.7 10.2 6.0 6.6 6.1 5.8 7.6 9.2 10.5 8.8 5.7 7.0 7.8 7.7 8.6 8.6 
			 South Ribble 7.7 8.9 7.6 7.1 8.5 8.8 8.8 9.9 10.6 11.1 10.4 9.7 8.2 8.3 8.1 8.7 9.7 
			 St. Helens 9.0 10.4 10.9 9.3 10.8 11.4 10.9 11.5 12.6 15.1 14.4 12.7 11.8 11.4 11.0 10.8 11.7 
			 Stockport 8.1 8.6 9.7 9.2 8.5 8.4 7.5 9.7 11.1 12.8 12.9 10.9 11.1 11.8 12.5 14.0 15.4 
			 Tameside 9.1 10.4 9.7 9.6 8.8 10.1 9.9 10.7 11.0 12.4 12.6 12.4 12.1 12.0 12.4 13.0 15.2 
			 Trafford 9.2 9.5 10.0 7.9 8.0 9.2 9.1 9.1 9.7 10.3 9.4 7.8 7.8 8.8 9.4 10.7 11.9 
			 Warrington 7.5 9.7 10.3 10.4 8.3 9.4 9.6 10.8 11.6 14.1 14.2 12.9 12.1 11.8 11.5 11.7 12,1 
			 West Lancashire 9.3 9.2 9.3 8.8 8.1 9.7 10.2 10.5 11.7 13.3 14.0 11.6 10.9 10.9 10.5 10.3 11.3 
			 Wigan 8.6 9.2 11.3 9.4 9.5 10.5 10.1 11.1 11.9 14.2 14.2 13.4 13.0 12.8 13.1 14.7 16.9 
			 Wirral 8.7 10.0 11.0 9.1 9.3 9.9 10.0 11.1 11.6 13.3 13.6 11.7 11.0 10.6 10.5 10.5 10.9 
			 Wyre 5.7 6.8 7.9 8.2 6.2 7.7 7.7 7.8 9.7 11.8 11.6 9.4 8.8 8.5 7.3 8.1 7.2 
			 (1) Length of claim data is only available for computerised claims, which account for 99.7 per cent. of all claims.  Source: Jobcentre Plus Administrative System

Unemployment: Salford

Hazel Blears: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the level of unemployment has been in Salford in each year since 1997.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated February 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the level of unemployment has been in Salford in each year since 1997. (317394)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles unemployment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey and its predecessor the annual Labour Force Survey (LFS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions. However, estimates of unemployment for the Salford constituency are unavailable.
	As an alternative, in Table 1 we have provided the number of persons claiming Jobseeker's Allowance for the Salford constituency for December 2009 and December of each year since 1997.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
	
		
			  Table 1. Number of persons resident in Salford parliamentary constituency claiming Jobseeker's Allowance 
			   Number 
			 December 1997 2,397 
			 December 1998 2,214 
			 December 1999 1,874 
			 December 2000 1,583 
			 December 2001 1,568 
			 December 2002 1,744 
			 December 2003 1,597 
			 December 2004 1,487 
			 December 2005 1,636 
			 December 2006 1,841 
			 December 2007 1,674 
			 December 2008 2,322 
			 December 2009 3,177 
			  Source: Jobcentre Plus administrative system

TRANSPORT

Aviation

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many domestic flights within Great Britain, excluding lifeline flights, were of 360 miles or less in  (a) 2009 and  (b) 2010; and what projection he has made of the number of such flights in (i) 2011, (ii) 2012, (iii) 2013, (iv) 2014 and (v) 2015.

Paul Clark: The following table shows the Department's latest forecasts of the number of domestic flights from GB airports, with a distance of 360 miles or under, between 2009 and 2015. All these figures, including 2009 and 2010, are forecasts from the aviation model as data are not yet available for these years.
	Lifeline flights cannot be excluded from our forecasts as only movements between the 29 largest GB airports are explicitly modelled, which does not include any lifeline flights. A list of modelled airports can be found in annex F of the UK Air Passenger Demand and CO2 Forecasts, published in January 2009. This is available at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/aviation/atf/co2forecasts09/
	Flights from a modelled airport to a minor airport are included in an 'other airports in model' category. This would include some lifeline flights but they cannot be separated out from the other flights in this category. Flights between two minor airports are not included in our modelling.
	
		
			   Flights under 360 miles 
			 2009 248,258 
			 2010 254,242 
			 2011 253,511 
			 2012 250,985 
			 2013 255,465 
			 2014 259,171 
			 2015 259,925 
			  Notes: 1. Data are for departures only. 2. These forecasts refer to the central demand scenario s12s2, with Stansted R2 in 2015 and Heathrow R3 around 2020, as presented in 'UK Air Passenger Demand and CO2 Forecasts', January 2009. This is available at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/aviation/atf/co2forecasts09/ 3. All figures are modelled, including 2009. 4. Distances are Great Circle Distances and no uplift for indirect routing has been applied.

Aviation

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many domestic flights within Northern Ireland, excluding lifeline flights, were of 360 miles or less in  (a) 2009 and  (b) 2010; and what estimate he has made of the number of such flights in (i) 2011, (ii) 2012, (iii) 2013, (iv) 2014 and (v) 2015.

Paul Clark: There are no flights within Northern Ireland. The three reporting airports (Belfast International, Belfast City and City of Derry) historically do not have flights between each other.
	There are currently no lifeline flight routes from Northern Ireland airports.

Aviation

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the average distance travelled by flights departing from UK airports  (a) was in 2009 and  (b) is projected to be in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2012, (iv) 2013, (v) 2014 and (vi) 2015.

Paul Clark: Table 1 shows the forecasts of the average distance of flights departing from UK airports between 2009 and 2015. All these figures, including 2009 and 2010, are forecasts from the aviation model as data is not yet available for these years.
	
		
			  Table 1 
			   Average flight distance (km) 
			 2009 1,558 
			 2010 1,568 
			 2011 1,581 
			 2012 1,588 
			 2013 1,588 
			 2014 1,590 
			 2015 1,592 
			  Notes: 1. Data is for UK departures only. 2. These forecasts refer to the central demand scenario s12s2, with Stansted R2 in 2015 and Heathrow R3 around 2020, as presented in UK Air Passenger Demand and CO2 Forecasts, January 2009. This is available at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/aviation/atf/co2forecasts09/ 3. All figures are modelled, including 2009. 4. Distances are Great Circle Distances uprated by 9 per cent. for indirect routing and stacking.

Aviation

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport 
	(1)  how many flights departed from UK airports in  (a) 2009 and  (b) 2010; and what estimate he has made of the equivalent figure in (i) 2011, (ii) 2012, (iii) 2013, (iv) 2014 and (v) 2015;
	(2)  how many flights, excluding lifeline flights departed from UK airports in  (a) 2009 and  (b) 2010; and what estimate he has made of the equivalent figure in (i) 2011, (ii) 2012, (iii) 2013, (iv) 2014 and (v) 2015.

Paul Clark: Table 1 shows the Department's latest forecasts of flights from UK airports between 2009 and 2015. All these figures, including 2009 and 2010, are forecasts from the aviation model as data is not yet available for these years.
	
		
			  Table 1 
			   Number of flights 
			 2009 2,324,695 
			 2010 2,416,328 
			 2011 2,511,165 
			 2012 2,576,932 
			 2013 2,655,016 
			 2014 2,721,096 
			 2015 2,799,069 
			  Notes: 1. Data is for UK departures only. 2. These forecasts refer to the central demand scenario s12s2, with Stansted R2 in 2015 and Heathrow R3 around 2020, as presented in UK Air Passenger Demand and CO2 Forecasts, January 2009. This is available at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/aviation/atf/co2forecasts09/ 3. All figures are modelled, including 2009. 
		
	
	It is not possible to exclude lifeline flights from the forecasts of flights from UK airports contained in table 1.
	Only movements between the 31 largest UK airports are explicitly modelled, which does not include any lifeline flights. A list of modelled airports can be found in annex F of the UK Air Passenger Demand and CO2 Forecasts, published in January 2009. This is available at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/aviation/atf/co2forecasts09/
	Flights from a modelled airport to a minor airport are included in an 'other airports in model' category. This would include some lifeline flights but they cannot be separated out from the other flights in this category. Flights between two minor airports are not included in our modelling.

Aviation

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what proportion of flights taking off from UK airports  (a) exclusively carried cargo and  (b) carried cargo with passengers in each of the last three years.

Paul Clark: The following table shows the proportion of flights departing from reporting UK airports by type.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   Exclusively carried cargo  Carried cargo with passengers  Exclusively carried passengers  All departing flights 
			 2006 3 61 36 100 
			 2007 3 60 37 100 
			 2008 3 60 37 100 
			  Notes: 1. Flights by cargo and passenger aircraft. Excludes flights without any recorded cargo or passengers. 2. Carried cargo includes freight and/or mail. 3. Flight departures are based on data from 58 reporting UK airports, including flights from the Isle of Man and Channel Islands. 4. Excludes airlines which did not give permission for CAA to disclose their data.  Source: Based on data supplied to DfT by the Civil Aviation Authority.

Aviation

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what average proportion of the weight of planes carrying cargo and passengers departing UK airports was made up of  (a) cargo and  (b) passengers in each of the last three years.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport does not hold this information.

Aviation

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the average number of seats was on planes  (a) making domestic flights within the UK and  (b) taking off from UK airports in each of the last three years.

Paul Clark: The following table shows the average number of seats on planes making domestic flights and of all flights departing from reporting UK airports in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
	
		
			  Average number of seats: 
			   Domestic flight departures  All flight departures (domestic and international) 
			 2006 91 139 
			 2007 93 141 
			 2008 93 142 
			  Notes: 1. Flights by passenger aircraft only. 2. Flight departures are based on data from 58 reporting UK airports, including flights from the Isle of Man and Channel Islands. 3. Excludes airlines which did not give permission for CAA to disclose their data.  Source:  Based on data supplied to DfT by the Civil Aviation Authority.

Aviation: Exhaust Emissions

John McDonnell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many tonnes of carbon dioxide were emitted as a result of UK domestic flights in 2008.

Paul Clark: In 2008, UK domestic aviation carbon dioxide emissions were 2.18MTCO2.
	The sources of these data are the AEA Energy and Environment and Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and can be found at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/climate_change/gg_emissions/uk_emissions/2008final/2008_final.aspx

Aviation: Isle of Man

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what discussions he has had with air carriers on the consequences for them of the cessation of the bilateral health agreement between the UK and the Isle of Man with effect from 1 April 2010; what obligations there are on air carriers on routes between the UK and the Isle of Man to meet the costs of hospital care and admission consequent upon a passenger falling ill while being carried on such a route; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: Responsibility for the bilateral health agreement with the Isle of Man rests with the Department of Health.
	In relation to aviation, the Department for Transport has had no discussions with air carriers about the cessation of the bilateral health agreement. There are no obligations on airlines to cover costs of passengers who become ill (unless the airline was in some way negligent).

Aviation: Northern Ireland

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many flights of less than 360 miles between Great Britain and Northern Ireland there were in each of the last three years.

Paul Clark: The following table shows the number of domestic flights of less than 360 miles between reporting airports in Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
	
		
			   Number of flights 
			 2006 70,093 
			 2007 74,727 
			 2008 74,379 
			  Notes: 1. Flights by passenger aircraft only. 2. Based on domestic flight arrival and departure data from the three reporting airports in Northern Ireland. Includes flights to/from the Isle of Man and Channel Island airports. 3. Excludes airlines which did not give permission for CAA to disclose their data.  Source:  Based on data supplied to DfT by the Civil Aviation Authority.

Aviation: Security

John Leech: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what steps are taken in circumstances where an air passenger in transit at a UK airport refuses to be subject to a full body scan on privacy grounds; and what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the UK Border Agency on the matter.

Paul Clark: Officials from the Department for Transport are discussing this matter with the UK Border Agency. Should a transit passenger refuse to be scanned and as a result is not allowed to travel, then UKBA would deal with any application for leave to enter the UK on its individual merits.

Aviation: Security

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether he has had discussions with  (a) Smith Technologies and  (b) QinetiQ on the availability and effectiveness of full body scanners.

Paul Clark: Officials from the Department for Transport have had discussions with a wide range of industry representatives including Smiths Detection and QinetiQ on the subject of advanced image technology, also known as body scanners.

Aviation: Security

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether he has made provision for training for airport security staff in relation to behavioural profiling.

Paul Clark: We are currently looking at whether targeting certain passengers for additional security measures at airports would be more effective than selecting a proportion of passengers at random. We have taken no decisions yet. Behavioural detection is not currently part of the training syllabus mandated for airport staff by the Department for Transport.
	A number of security staff at Heathrow are undergoing training in behavioural analysis techniques-where passengers are selected if they are behaving suspiciously. This training is being trialled and will be independently evaluated. We will be considering the effectiveness of this trial before deciding whether it can be rolled out more widely.

Aviation: Security

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether he plans to publish guidance relating to the protection of the privacy of airline passengers who undergo full body scans.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport has published an interim code of practice relating to the protection of privacy. It also covers health and safety, data protection and equality issues. The interim code of practice is available in the libraries of the House and on the Department's website.
	The Department will shortly be launching a full public consultation on the interim code of practice and will consider all representations carefully before preparing a final code of practice later in the year.

Aviation: Security

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport when he expects full body scanning equipment to be operational at UK domestic airports other than designated airports.

Paul Clark: Body scanning equipment will be operational at three airports by the end of February. The Department for Transport is currently working with industry to develop a timetable for widespread implementation.

British Transport Police: Fixed Penalties

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the answer of 3 February 2010,  Official Report, columns 423-4W, on British Transport Police: fixed penalties, how many penalty notices for disorder were issued in each year from 2006 to 2009; and what percentage of  (a) £50 fines and  (b) £80 fines have been paid.

Chris Mole: Following is a breakdown for penalty notices which were issued in each year from 2006 to 2009 by British Transport police (BTP), including percentages for £50 and £80 fines which have been paid.
	
		
			   Total £50 penalty notice for disorder issued  Percentage paid  Total £80 penalty notice for disorder issued  Percentage paid 
			 2006 895 52 2,231 48 
			 2007 1,401 53 3,454 51 
			 2008 1,378 55 3,143 52 
			 2009 1,495 56 3,743 48 
		
	
	Of the above unpaid penalty notices the following percentages were converted into fines at court:
	
		
			   Converted into fines (p ercentage ) 
			 2006 88 
			 2007 86 
			 2008 81 
			 2009 82

Bus Services: Concessions

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many concessionary bus passes were issued to residents of Houghton and Washington East constituency in each of the last two years.

Sadiq Khan: The Department for Transport is not responsible for issuing passes and so does not maintain records of how many passes individual authorities have issued.
	Concessionary travel in Houghton and Washington East is administered by Nexus, Tyne and Wear's Passenger Transport Executive. Nexus is best placed to provide information regarding passes issued to residents of Houghton and Washington East.
	The last information held by the Department was that as of 12 January this year, Nexus had issued approximately 295,028 smartcard concessionary passes since the introduction of the England-wide concession in April 2008. This includes passes issued to disabled people as well as those aged 60 and over. The Department holds no data about passes issued prior to this date.

Bus Services: Concessions

Bob Neill: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 14 July 2009,  Official Report, column 205W, on bus services: concessions, when he expects to place in the Library a copy of the written representations.

Sadiq Khan: Where consent has been received from the relevant hon. Member or local authority, copies of the written representations that the Department has received between July 2008 and April 2009, regarding concessionary travel funding, were placed in the Library on 11 February 2010.

Departmental Accountancy

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether any written instructions have been provided to his Department's Accounting Officer in accordance with paragraph 5.5 of the Ministerial Code since May 2002.

Chris Mole: Each Accounting Officer receives a copy of chapter 3 of Managing Public Money (the Accounting Officer Memorandum), which includes instructions on Ministerial Directions.

Departmental Communication

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the answer of Lord Bates of 3 December 2009,  Official Report, House of Lords, column WA68, on Government Departments: Annual Reports, and with reference to the Government Response to the House of Lords Communications Committee's report into Government Communications, whether his Department publishes an annual report on departmental communications.

Chris Mole: The Department for Transport does not publish an annual report on departmental communications. Communication activities and details of sponsorship support, and the objectives they contribute to, are reported in the Department's Annual Report and Accounts.

Departmental Finance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much funding his Department has allocated to each  (a) scheme and  (b) area for local network management schemes for 2009-10.

Chris Mole: The Highways Agency allocated £105 million of funding to local network management schemes in 2009-10. Approximately 1,500 projects make up this total and it is not practicable to detail these.
	The Highways Agency operates the Strategic Road network on a National basis and prioritises its programme as such. The local network management scheme budget in the 2009-10 Business Plan was allocated by area as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 East 13 
			 East Midlands 9 
			 North West 18 
			 South East 27 
			 South West 8 
			 West Midlands 14 
			 Yorkshire and North East 16

Departmental Finance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much of his Department's £700 million fiscal stimulus funding had been spent on roads projects on the latest date for which figures are available; and how much of that funding he plans to spend on funding each roads project.

Chris Mole: The Department for Transport is to spend £400 million of the £700 million fiscal stimulus funding on projects on the strategic road network. The year to date and estimated full year forecast of fiscal stimulus expenditure, split by region, is as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Region  Year to date (December 2009)  Full year forecast 
			 North West 36 58 
			 Yorkshire and North East 61 87 
			 West Midlands 33 61 
			 East Midlands 51 78 
			 East 32 55 
			 South West 24 30 
			 South East 29 31 
			 Total 266 400 
		
	
	There are in excess of 100 schemes being delivered as part of the fiscal stimulus programme and it is not practicable for all schemes to be detailed. In the following table are examples of these schemes with estimated full year forecast expenditure (these are included in the £400 million shown in the above).
	
		
			  Description  Full year forecast (£ million) 
			 A46 Newark to Widmerpool dualling 70 
			 M6 J5-15 hard shoulder strengthening 51 
			 M62 J25-30 concrete barrier and lighting renewal 36 
			 M1 J32-35a concrete barrier and lighting renewal 20 
			 M1 J10-13 hard shoulder strengthening 16 
			 M11 J9-8 pavement renewals 11 
			 Avonmouth Bridge Northbound resurfacing 6 
			 A27 Lighting and major maintenance 6 
			 A3 Esher bypass major maintenance 5 
			 M4 J15 replacement of central reserve barrier 5 
			 M18 Jctn 6-7 concrete barrier renewal 4 
			 A5 Milton Keynes renewals 4 
			 M1 J28-30 lane 1 and hard shoulder renewals 4 
			 M6 J33-34 resurfacing/safety barrier replacement 4 
			 A38-A50 installation variable message signs 3 
			 M42 J5 through junction running 3 
			 M5 Poundisford resurfacing 3 
			 A55 River Dee carriageway resurfacing 2

Departmental Finance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport 
	(1)  how much funding has been allocated to each  (a) scheme and  (b) region under the second round of the regional funding allocation;
	(2)  how much of his Department's Regional Funding Advice 2 budget has been allocated to  (a) Highways Agency schemes of regional significance valued at over £5 million and  (b) each local transport major scheme in each region in each of the next three years.

Sadiq Khan: The Government published guidance for the regions and additional transport supplementary guidance in July 2008. This provided information on regional funding allocations by year from 2008-09 to 2018-19 and by region. I am placing a copy of this Guidance in the Libraries of the House.
	In addition, I have also recently placed in the House Libraries advice received from each region, excluding London, in July 2009 which highlights suggested funding allocations to 2018-19 for each  (a) Highways Agency scheme of regional significance and  (b) local transport major scheme, costing over £5 million. These allocations are indicative only. The actual amount spent on each scheme in any given year will depend upon the terms of the final funding approval from the Department, the start date, and progress of construction. Copies of our response to the advice dated July 2009 have also been placed in the House Libraries.

Departmental Manpower

Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate he has made of the proportion of staff of  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies managed out in the last five years who remain working in the public sector.

Chris Mole: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Recruitment

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much his Department and its agencies spent on external recruitment consultants in the last year for which figures are available.

Chris Mole: The Department for Transport and its Executive agencies spent the following amounts on recruitment consultants in financial year 2008-09:
	
		
			   £ 
			 Department for Transport (central) 1,164,056 
			 Highways Agency 430,953 
			 Driving Standards Agency 279,591 
			 Government Car and Despatch Agency 86,052 
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency 0 
			 Vehicle Certification Agency 0 
		
	
	The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is unable to provide details of spend on external recruitment consultants without incurring disproportionate cost. However DVLA's expenditure on recruitment for financial year 2008-09, as published in the annual report and accounts, was £876,000.
	The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency is unable to provide details of spend on external recruitment consultants without incurring disproportionate cost.

Departmental Recruitment

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many job vacancies in his Department and its agencies were filled through external recruitment in the last year for which figures are available.

Chris Mole: The Department for Transport filled 1,390 job vacancies through external recruitment in the calendar year 2009.

Driving Instruction

Angus Robertson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many driving instructors qualified in each of the last three years.  [Official Report, 23 March 2010, Vol. 508, c. 1MC.]

Paul Clark: The number of newly qualified approved driving instructors entering the Register of Approved Driving Instructors, in each of the last three years, is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Number qualified 
			 2007 4,485 
			 2008 4,749 
			 2009 4,485

Driving Instruction

Angus Robertson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the average age of driving instructors is.  [Official Report, 23 March 2010, Vol. 508, c. 2MC.]

Paul Clark: The average age of the 48,885 Approved Driving Instructors currently registered is 47 years and six months.

Driving Tests: Orkney and Shetland

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the average waiting time was between applying for and taking a driving test in  (a) Orkney and  (b) Shetland (i) in each of the last five years and (ii) in the most recent period for which information is available.

Paul Clark: The following table shows the average number of weeks between a candidate applying for different sorts of practical driving test and the test date at the Orkney and Shetland test centres in each of the last five years and for the period from 1 April 2009 to 9 February 2010
	
		
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 YTD 
			  Orkney   
			 Car 10.2 8.9 9.4 11.9 11.3 8.3 
			 Motorcycle (old test) 7.7 8.0 8.5 8.6 8.3 - 
			 Motorcycle (off road) - - - - - 4.5 
			 Motorcycle (on road) - - - - - 6.2 
			 Lorry or bus 7.1 6.8 6.9 6.4 8.6 7.6 
			
			  Shetland   
			 Car 8.7 7.1 8.7 11.1 7.4 5.9 
			 Motorcycle (old test) 7.2 6.6 4.3 5.9 6.2 - 
			 Motorcycle (on road) - - - - - 2.7 
			 Lorry or bus 5.9 9.8 10.4 8.8 8.8 4.5

East Coast Railway Line

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the reliability figures for the East Coast Line were in each of the last four months.

Chris Mole: The percentage of trains arriving on time or within ten minutes of schedule is recorded as the 'Public Performance Measure' (PPM). The information requested is outlined in the following table:
	
		
			  Railway period start  PPM (actual) (percentage)  PPM (MAA) (percentage)  Previous year PPM MAA (percentage)  Change in MAA since 2008 
			 23 August 2009 87.9 88.6 85.2 Improvement 
			 20 September 2009 91.5 88.6 85.5 Improvement 
			 18 October 2009 87.9 89.0 85.4 Improvement 
			 15 November 2009 85.2 88.9 85.5 Improvement 
			 13 December 2009 67.4 87.5 85.7 Improvement 
		
	
	Due to the severe weather the monthly PPM figure for the period starting December 2009 is considerably lower than for the period starting in November 2009.
	Because of seasonal variations in performance, a more useful indicator of long-term trends is the Moving Annual Average-which is simply the average over the last 12 months.

East Coast Railway Line

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether his Department was involved in discussions on new uniforms for staff on trains operated by the East Coast rail company.

Chris Mole: The Department for Transport was not involved in this decision. Management decisions such as this are made by East Coast.

East Coast Railway Line

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much is planned to be spent on new livery for trains operated by the East Coast rail company.

Chris Mole: This is an operational matter for East Coast.
	The hon. Member should contact the chair of East Coast at the following address for a more detailed response to her question:
	Elaine Holt
	Chair
	East Coast
	East Side Offices
	King's Cross Station
	London N1C 4AP

Feltham

Alan Keen: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Feltham and Heston constituency, the effects on that constituency of changes to his Department's policies since 1997.

Sadiq Khan: The Department for Transport (DFT) does not routinely hold transport statistics on a parliamentary constituency basis. The Department provides Transport for London with a block grant to fund transport delivery in London. This grant has more than doubled in the last nine years, rising to almost £3 billion in 2010-11. Drawing on these and other resources, the Mayor is responsible for publishing, and through TfL, implementing a Transport Strategy for London, while the boroughs are required to publish Local Implementation Plans which set out how they will contribute to the Mayor's strategy.
	The additional funding that has been made available has helped deliver 1,089 million passenger journeys on the Tube in 2008-09, the highest ever. London Underground's scheduled service is now its largest ever, and in 2008-09 96.4 per cent. was run, the best annual result for 14 years.
	Bus services in London have also improved. 2,247 million passenger journeys were made in 2008-09 and patronage grew by almost 47 per cent. between 1997-98 and 2007-08.
	Concessionary travel continues to benefit elderly and disabled Londoners, and more than a million people currently hold a Freedom Pass.
	On the South West Trains franchise, reliability has improved. In December 2009, 87 per cent. of trains arrived on time or within five minutes of the scheduled time, up from 75 per cent. in December 2004.
	On the roads, national targets to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured by 40 per cent. and reduce the number of slight casualties by 10 per cent. (compared to the period 1994 to 1998) by 2010 were largely exceeded by TfL by 2004, leading to TfL setting themselves new targets of 50 per cent. and 25 per cent. respectively.
	Various improvements in relation to cycling have also been realised across London. TfL report that cycling now accounts for 2 per cent. of trips in London compared to 1.2 per cent. in 2000, and between 2000-01 and 2007-08, TfL's automatic cycle counters reported an increase in cyclists of 91 per cent.

Gospel Oak-Barking Railway Line

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the Mayor of London on the electrification of the Barking to Gospel Oak line; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mole: None. I understand that Transport for London considers that further development work would be required for them to assess this project, but are not currently funding this.

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment the Government Car and Despatch Agency has made of its environmental impact in each of the last five years.

Paul Clark: The Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) holds ISO 14001 accreditation-an internationally recognised environmental management system standard. GCDA gained (and has since maintained every year) this accreditation since 1999. Consequently GCDA's environmental performance is audited regularly. GCDA was awarded the Carbon Trust Standard in 2009.
	GCDA's environmental performance is also measured against the Agency's Sustainable Development Action Plan agreed with Ministers at the Department for Transport under the framework of Sustainable Operations in the Government Estate (SOGE).
	For example, in relation to its cars and drivers GCDA has adopted a number of different strategies to minimise its environmental impact, including:
	Vehicle allocation
	Mileage reduction
	Driver training
	Policies and practices to address grey fleet (private vehicles used for business journeys)
	Measures to improve health and safety and duty of care
	Fleet carbon footprinting
	GCDA's efforts to reduce its tailpipe emissions while growing the business have been particularly successful. The use of alternatively powered vehicles has meant that tailpipe emissions were cut from 232.03 g CO2/km in 2005 to 133.01 g CO2/km in August 2009-a reduction of 43 per cent. significantly beating the Government target three years early. We are close to meeting the Government's target of 130 g CO2/km by 2012 also three years early.

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much the Government Car and Despatch Agency spent on  (a) media monitoring,  (b) advertising and  (c) public relations in each of the last five years.

Paul Clark: The Government Car and Despatch Agency does not undertake media monitoring.
	The following table shows expenditure for the last five years on marketing. This incorporates elements of advertising and PR however it is not possible to disaggregate the component parts as they are purchased as marketing packages. To attempt to do so would incur a disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Marketing/publicity advertising expenditure 
			   Spend (£) 
			 2005-06 5,000 
			 2006-07 450 
			 2007-08 0 
			 2008-09 2,750 
			 2009-10 0

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many journeys between Government buildings were taken by  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials using the Government Car and Despatch Agency in each of the last three years.

Paul Clark: This information is not recorded at the level of detail requested. To obtain such information would incur a disproportionate cost.

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport which Departments used the services of the Government Car and Despatch Agency in 2008-09; and which Departments have used that service in 2009-10.

Paul Clark: All Departments used the services of the Government Car and Despatch Agency in 2008-09 and in 2009-10.

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much the Government Car and Despatch Agency spent on vehicle insurance in each of the last five years.

Paul Clark: The Government Car and Despatch Agency spent the following on vehicle insurance in each of the last five years.
	
		
			   £ 
			 2008-09 110,909.00 
			 2007-08 153,853.00 
			 2006-07 162,804.00 
			 2005-06 168,110.00 
			 2004-05 172,184.00

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many Government Car and Despatch Agency vehicles were involved in road traffic accidents in each of the last five years.

Paul Clark: The number of Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) vehicles involved in road traffic incidents in each of the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2005-06 155 
			 2006-07 183 
			 2007-08 143 
			 2008-09 167 
			 2009-to date 133 
		
	
	GCDA also operates an accident panel at which all incidents, no matter how minor, are investigated. Where agency drivers are found to be culpable, the panel's procedures permit referral for further training or other investigation or financial penalties.

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many cars in the Government Car and Despatch Agency fleet are equipped with vehicle tracking equipment.

Paul Clark: None of the allocated cars in the Government Car and Despatch Agency fleet are equipped with vehicle tracking equipment. Green car drivers who operate the agency's environmental taxi-style service are issued with equipment which enables the dispatching team to identify the location of the driver to maximise efficiency.

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether the Government Car and Despatch Agency has conducted a user satisfaction survey in the last three years.

Paul Clark: The Government Car and Despatch Agency has conducted a customer satisfaction survey for 2006-07, 2007-08 and for 2008-09. The customer satisfaction survey for 2009-10 will be completed at year end. The results of these surveys are available in the agency's annual report, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much was spent by the Government Car and Despatch Agency on consultancy in each of the last five years; which companies were employed for such services in each such year; and how much was paid to each company for those services in each such year.

Paul Clark: The Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) employed the services and spent the following with consultancy companies over the last five years:
	
		
			   Expenditure (£) 
			 2008-09 142,272.00 
			 2007-08 100,272.00 
			 2008-07 124,055.00 
			 2005-06 89,356.00 
			 2004-05 83,094.00 
		
	
	To identify the individual suppliers of consultancy services would incur a disproportionate cost.
	GCDA uses consultants when specialist skills, knowledge or services are needed. Consultants on short-term contracts may represent better value for money than recruiting and retaining permanent staff for specialist, short-term roles.

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many  (a) agency and  (b) temporary workers were employed by the Government Car and Despatch Agency in each of the last five years; and how much was spent in respect of such employees in each such year.

Paul Clark: The expenditure on agency and temporary workers employed by the Government Car and Despatch Agency in each of the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			   Cost (£) 
			 2009 313,304.00 
			 2008 174,666.00 
			 2007 268,603.00 
			 2006 217,942.00 
			 2005 73,245.00 
		
	
	GCDA appoints temporary staff from (recruitment) agencies to meet the peak demands of the business' needs and to buy-in expertise on a short-term basis to meet operational needs.
	Retrieving the number of staff within each category could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many complaints were received by the Government Car and Despatch Agency in each of the last five years; and how many such complaints related to the use of relief drivers.

Paul Clark: The Government Car and Despatch Agency monitors formal complaints through its ISO 9001 procedures. In the past two years there have been seven recorded formal complaints, five of which refer specifically to the provision of relief drivers. Records are not retained beyond two years.
	The Customer Satisfaction Survey conducted each year invites customers to identify areas for service improvement. The provision of relief drivers is one of those areas identified.

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the income was of the Government Car and Despatch Agency from the  (a) private and  (b) public sector in each of the last five years; and how much of that income from each sector was received in respect of the Government Car Service in each such year.

Paul Clark: The Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) is a full cost recovery organisation: All costs incurred as a result of our operation are fully recoverable through charges to our customers.
	The income of GCDA in each of the last five years, including the value of that income received in respect of the Government Car Service was as follows (as per annual accounts):
	
		
			  Income £000 
			   Total  Public sector (Government car service)  Other (public sector)  Other (private sector) 
			 2008-09 21,260 14,906 6,073 281 
			 2007-08 19,508 13,762 5,485 261 
			 2006-07 18,861 12,673 6,183 5 
			 2005-06 17,612 11,700 5,816 96 
			 2004-05 16,743 11,301 5,329 113 
		
	
	Revenue is derived primarily from Government and the wider public sector within the UK working in accordance with the Agency's Framework Document.

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many miles were travelled by Government Car Service vehicles in each of the last five years.

Paul Clark: The information requested is in the following table.
	
		
			   Miles travelled by Government car service vehicles 
			 2008-09 2,631,000 
			 2007-08 2,397,000 
			 2006-07 2,189,000 
			 2005-06 2,834,000 
			 2004-05 2,394,200

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the average mileage was of a Government Car and Despatch Agency  (a) car and  (b) van on the latest date for which figures are available.

Paul Clark: The most up to date figure for the average mileage of a Government Car and Despatch Agency car is 30,652 and for a van is 79,826.

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the total expenditure was of the Government Car and Despatch Agency in each of the last five years; and how much of that expenditure related to the Government Car Service in each such year.

Paul Clark: The expenditure of the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) including that expenditure related to the Government Car Service in each of the last five years is as follows (as per annual accounts):
	
		
			  Expenditure £000 
			   Total  Government Car Service 
			 2008-09 21,259 14,847 
			 2007-08 20,106 14,014 
			 2006-07 18,851 12,531 
			 2005-06 17,602 11,578 
			 2004-05 16,360 10,856 
		
	
	GCDA is a full cost recovery organisation: All costs incurred as a result of our operation are fully recoverable through charges to our customers.

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many online payments were received by the Government Car and Despatch Agency in each of the last three years.

Paul Clark: The Government Car and Despatch Agency implemented new payment procedures in October 2008. 801 payments were made in the financial year 2008-09 using the Government Procurement Card, and 1,517 such payments have been made from April 2009 to end January 2010.

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many  (a) cars and  (b) other vehicles have been (i) owned and (ii) leased by the Government Car and Despatch Agency in each year since 1997.

Paul Clark: The information requested is in the following table:
	
		
			   Cars (owned)  Other vehicles (owned)  Leased vehicles (cars)  Leased vehicles (other) 
			 2002-03 193 57 0 4 
			 2004 197 53 0 4 
			 2005 197 55 0 4 
			 2006 189 42 0 4 
			 2007 212 48 0 5 
			 2008 207 48 2 5 
			 2009-10 215 41 26 7

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many cars the Government Car and Despatch Agency has  (a) purchased and  (b) sold in each of the last five years.

Paul Clark: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 24 March 2009,  Official Report, column 205W. Added to which the following information for 2008-09 and 2009 to date:
	
		
			   Purchased  Sold 
			 2009-10 (to date) 10 29 
			 2008-09 48 33

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many staff at the Government Car and Despatch Agency received bonuses in each of the last three years.

Paul Clark: An element of the Government Car and Despatch Agency's overall pay award is allocated to non-consolidated variable pay related to performance. These payments are used to drive high performance and form part of the pay award for members of staff who demonstrate exceptional performance, for example by exceeding targets set or meeting challenging objectives.
	Non-consolidated variable pay awards are funded from within existing pay bill controls, and have to be re-earned each year against pre-determined targets and, as such, do not add to future pay bill costs. The percentage of the pay bill set aside for performance-related awards for the SCS is based on recommendations from the independent Senior Salaries Review Body.
	The following table details how many people were eligible for and received a non-consolidated variable pay award, awarded under the Government Car and Despatch Agency's standard pay and performance management process for the last three performance years.
	
		
			   GCDA headcount  Number of staff who received a non-consolidated performance payment  Number of staff who did not receive a non-consolidated performance payment 
			 2008-09 315 298 17 
			 2007-08 292 215 77 
			 2006-07 307 239 68

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much was spent on staff costs by the Government Car and Despatch Agency in each of the last five years.

Paul Clark: The Government Car and Despatch spent the following on staff costs in each of the last five years:
	
		
			   Spend (£000) 
			 2008-09 12,742 
			 2007-08 11,905 
			 2006-07 11,728 
			 2005-06 10,766 
			 2004-05 9,841 
		
	
	Staff costs include employer's contribution to national insurance and pensions.

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what proportion of drivers for the Government Car and Despatch Agency reported for work on  (a) 7 and  (b) 8 January 2010.

Paul Clark: The 7 and 8 January were days of heavy snowfall in the south-east. From a total of 234; 197 drivers reported for work on 7 January 2010 and 205 drivers reported for work on 8 January 2010 for the Government Car and Despatch Agency.
	Relief drivers were used where regular drivers were unavailable.

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment has been made of effects of the implementation of the European Working Time Directive on the Government Car and Despatch Agency; and what estimate has been made of the cost to that Agency of such implementation.

Paul Clark: Changes to the Government Car Service which came into effect on 12 October 2009, will reduce the cost to the taxpayer. Under the new system, drivers work a single daily shift. Ministers continue to have one dedicated driver (apart from those in the high security category), but any out-of-hours ministerial driving is met, on demand, by the Government Car and Despatch Agency's low carbon taxi service. This is a better deal for tax payers than the previous arrangements.
	The cost of implementation is estimated as £500,000 for changes to the driver remuneration package.
	£89,278.30 was the cost for consultancy assistance within the implementation project. All other costs have been absorbed by the Government Car and Despatch Agency.

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many staff were employed by the Government Car and Despatch Agency to work in the Government Car Service in each of the last five years; and what the total cost was of the salaries of those staff.

Paul Clark: The information requested is in the following table.
	
		
			   Total salary cost (£000)  Employees 
			 2008-09 8,576 182 
			 2007-08 7,865 158 
			 2006-07 7,329 178 
			 2005-06 6,551 164 
			 2004-05 5,732 163 
			  Note: As per published annual report and accounts.

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether Ministers are entitled to express a preference for particular drivers to be assigned to them by the Government Car and Despatch Agency.

Paul Clark: Cars and drivers are allocated to Departments depending on the level of the job required. Drivers are trained to the appropriate level for the role they are expected to undertake. Departments and Ministers provide feedback to the Government Car and Despatch Agency on the service provided and if they have any concerns the Agency will address those concerns, including, if appropriate changing the driver.

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many mechanics the Government Car and Despatch Agency employed in each of the last three years.

Paul Clark: The Government Car and Despatch Agency employed the following number of mechanics in each of the last three years.
	
		
			   Number of mechanics  Number of apprentice mechanics 
			 2007-08 6 1 
			 2008-09 5 1 
			 2009 to date 4 1

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the country of manufacture of each of the  (a) cars and  (b) vans in the Government Car and Despatch Agency fleet was in each of the last five years.

Paul Clark: The country of manufacture of each of the  (a) cars and  (b) vans in the Government Car and Despatch Agency fleet, in each of the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			  2009 
			  Country of manufacture  Cars  Vans 
			 UK 36 22 
			 Belgium 14 0 
			 Germany 12 0 
			 Japan 135 0 
			 Poland 1 1 
			 Portugal 3 0 
			 South Korea 7 0 
			 Spain 5 0 
			 Turkey 0 26 
			 Netherlands 0 3 
			 Total 213 52 
		
	
	
		
			  2008 
			  Country of manufacture  Cars  Vans 
			 UK 30 23 
			 Belgium 16 0 
			 France 4 0 
			 Germany 15 1 
			 Japan 111 0 
			 Poland 1 1 
			 Portugal 4 0 
			 South Korea 7 0 
			 Spain 5 0 
			 Turkey 0 25 
			 Netherlands 0 3 
			 Total 193 53 
		
	
	
		
			  2007 
			  Country of Manufacture  Cars  Vans 
			 UK 35 6 
			 Belgium 36 12 
			 France 7 1 
			 Germany 13 1 
			 Japan 88 0 
			 Poland 0 0 
			 Portugal 6 0 
			 South Korea 7 0 
			 Spain 5 0 
			 Turkey 0 33 
			 Sweden 2 0 
			 Netherlands 0 0 
			 Total 199 53 
		
	
	
		
			  2006 
			  Country of manufacture  Cars  Vans 
			 UK 34 24 
			 Belgium 69 0 
			 France 8 2 
			 Germany 38 1 
			 Japan 35 0 
			 Poland 0 0 
			 Portugal 7 2 
			 South Korea 0 0 
			 Spain 5 0 
			 Turkey 21 4 
			 Sweden 0 0 
			 Netherlands 0 0 
			 Total 217 33 
		
	
	
		
			  2005 
			  Country of manufacture  Cars  Vans 
			 UK 29 3 
			 Belgium 95 31 
			 France 8 2 
			 Germany 52 1 
			 Japan 7 0 
			 Poland 0 0 
			 Portugal 7 2 
			 South Korea 0 0 
			 Spain 0 0 
			 Turkey 0 17 
			 Sweden 0 0 
			 Netherlands 0 0 
			 Total 198 56 
		
	
	
		
			  2004 
			  Country of manufacture  Cars  Vans 
			 UK 31 8 
			 Belgium 86 42 
			 France 5 0 
			 Germany 68 2 
			 Japan 3 0 
			 Poland 0 0 
			 Portugal 4 0 
			 South Korea 0 0 
			 Spain 0 0 
			 Turkey 0 0 
			 Sweden 0 0 
			 Netherlands 0 0 
			 Total 197 52

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much the Government Car and Despatch Agency spent on  (a) London congestion charge (i) payments and (ii) fines and  (b) fines for (i) speeding and (ii) parking in each year since 2008.

Paul Clark: The Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) has paid the following fines and London congestion charges:
	
		
			  £ 
			   Congestion charges  Congestion charge fines  Total parking fines 
			 2008-09 124,640.00 0 2,530.00 
		
	
	The Agency has paid no speeding fines.
	Parking restrictions within central London may make it impossible sometimes to deliver secure or sensitive documents to buildings or allow people with a high public profile to attend or leave buildings without putting themselves or secure documents at risk. In these cases GCDA will pay the fine and recharge these costs to the customer as appropriate.

Highways Agency: Finance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much the Highways Agency spent on each of its ongoing major maintenance projects in the latest period for which figures are available; and how much it plans to spend on each such project in each of the next three years.

Chris Mole: The financial year of 2008-09 is the most recent period for which expenditure on major maintenance is available.
	In that year the Highways Agency delivered some 2,000 projects within this programme which includes reconstruction, overlay, resurfacing of road pavement and maintenance of roadside assets. It also includes inspections, parapet and structural repair as well as technology and asset renewal.
	Therefore, it is not practicable to release costs of each project. In 2008-09 spend on these projects totalled £589 million. In 2009-10 we estimated in our Business Plan planned spend of £800 million on major maintenance projects.
	2010-11 plans are being finalised and spending in the following years is subject to the outcome of any future Spending Review.

Highways Agency: Finance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much the Highways Agency spent on each of its ongoing routine maintenance projects in the latest period for which figures are available; and how much it plans to spend on each such project in each of the next three years.

Chris Mole: The financial year of 2008-09 is the most recent period for which expenditure on routine maintenance is available.
	It is not practicable to release costs of individual routine maintenance works as this comprises many hundreds of projects and much of this activity is paid for through lump sum-based contracts.
	Routine maintenance includes vital elements of the Highways Agency's maintenance regime to ensure it meets its statutory obligations. It includes activities such as gully emptying, accident damage repairs, cleaning signs, defect repairs, winter and technology maintenance.
	In 2008-09 spend on routine maintenance totalled £325 million. In 2009-10 we estimated in our Business Plan planned spend of £300 million on routine maintenance.
	2010-11 plans are being finalised and the following years are subject to the outcome of any future Spending Review.

Highways Agency: Finance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much funding the Highways Agency has allocated for  (a) routine and  (b) major maintenance in each region in each of the next three years.

Chris Mole: Allocations for 2010-11 are currently being finalised and the future years are subject to the outcome of any future spending review.

Highways Agency: Finance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Lewes of 24 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 2098-99W, what total control budget has been allocated for Highways Agency major schemes in  (a) development and  (b) options stages in 2009-10.

Chris Mole: The Highways Agency Major Schemes in Development and Options Phases that had budgets set for the current financial year, 2009-10, are shown in the following lists. The total control budget for 2009-10 set for schemes in Development was £82.5 million and for schemes in Options was £29.7 million.
	 Schemes in Development
	A1 Leeming to Barton
	A11 Fiveways to Thetford
	A14 Ellington to Fen Ditton
	A14 Kettering
	A21 Kippings Cross to Lamberhurst
	A21 Tonbridge Bypass to Lamberhurst
	A23 Handcross to Warninglid
	A45 A46 Tollbar End Improvement
	A46 Newark to Widmerpool Improvement
	A556 Improvement (M6 J19-M56 J7)
	A57/A628 Mottram to Tintwhistle Bypass
	A5-M1 Link Dunstable Bypass
	Birmingham Box Phase 3 M6 J5-8 Hard Shoulder Running
	M1 J10-13 Hard Shoulder Running
	M1 J10-13 Junctions
	M1 J19 Improvement
	M1 J32-35a Hard Shoulder Running
	M20 Junction 10a
	M25 J1b-J3 Controlled Motorway
	M4 J19-20 and M5 J15-17
	M60 J15-J12 Lane Gain
	M60 J15-12 Lane Gain
	M60 J8-12 Hard Shoulder Running
	M62 J18-20 Hard Shoulder Running
	M62 J25-30 Hard Shoulder Running
	£82.5 million
	 Note:
	A46 Newark to Widmerpool Imp moved into the Construction Phase in June 2009.
	 Schemes in Options
	A14 Kettering Bypass
	A1 Western Bypass
	A1/A19/A1068 Seaton Burn
	A160/A180 Imp Immingham
	A19/A1058 Coast Road
	A19/A189 Moor Farm
	A19/A184 Testos Grade Separated Junction
	A21 Baldslow Link
	A38 Derby Junctions
	A5036 Port of Liverpool Access
	A63 Castle Street Improvement
	Chichester and A27 Transport
	M1 J10-13 Hard Shoulder Running
	M1 J28-31
	M1 J32-35a Hard Shoulder Running
	M25 J23-27 Sect 5 Hard Shoulder Running
	M25 J30/A13 Corridor
	M25 J5-6/7 Sect 2 Hard Shoulder Running
	M3 J2-4a Hard Shoulder Running
	M4 J3-12 Hard Shoulder Running
	M54 to M6 Toll Private Equity Partnership
	M6 J10a-13
	M6 J13-15 (including J15)
	M6 J15-19 (including J19)
	M6 J21a-26
	M60 J12-18 Impt (Junction 28 to 12 Improvements)
	M60 J8-12 Hard Shoulder Running
	M62 J18-20 Hard Shoulder Running
	£29.7 million
	Throughout the course of the year some new schemes have been introduced into the Options Phase and others have moved between phases.
	A number of schemes annotated as forming part of the Managed Motorway Feasibility Study within 2008-09 are now going forward as Hard Shoulder Running schemes.

Hotels

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many separate bookings at five star or above hotels were made through the Expotel contract by his Department in the last year for which figures are available; and at what cost.

Chris Mole: The following table lists the number of trips booked, hotel night stays and total cost for Department for Transport booked through Expotel in the period 1 April 2009 to 31 January 2010.
	
		
			  Department for Transport  Number/£ 
			 Number of trips 65 
			 Number of nights stayed 105 
			 Total cost (£) 10,990.45

London Bridge Station

Simon Hughes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what consideration his Department has given to the merits of redeveloping London Bridge station so as to allow South London Line services to continue to operate from that station.

Chris Mole: It has always been recognised that it would not be possible to reconstruct London Bridge station within its current footprint without removing some of the terminating platforms, and thus reducing the number of trains that could use this part of the station.
	If additional services from the South London Line were to be routed into the London Bridge station this would require a further expansion of the station which would be cost prohibitive potentially require additional land and would require further planning consents.

Lorries

Ian Stewart: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what information his Department  (a) holds and  (b) has access to on (i) the number of heavy trucks and lorry drivers (A) employed and (B) self-employed in each EU and EFTA member state, (ii) the average hours worked by each category of driver in each such state in the latest period for which figures are available and (iii) the average (1) hourly and (2) weekly earnings of heavy truck and lorry drivers in each such state in the latest period for which figures are available.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport does not collect or hold the requested information.

M4: Cameras

Hugo Swire: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many dedicated cameras there are for surveillance of the bus and taxi lane on the M4.

Chris Mole: There are no dedicated cameras for surveillance of the M4 bus and taxi lane. However, there are six CCTV cameras between junctions 3 and 2 of the M4, which can be used to monitor the carriageway.

Motorways: Accidents

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent research his Department and its agencies have undertaken on the number of traffic officers required to attend incidents on motorways.

Chris Mole: The number of officers and vehicles required to attend an incident varies greatly dependent on the nature, severity and location of the incident.
	Neither the Department for Transport nor the Highways Agency has undertaken any recent research on the number of traffic officers required to attend incidents on the motorways.
	A controlled trial is currently under way to fully explore the possibilities of variable crewing of patrol vehicles.

Motorways: Ragwort

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport which Minister has responsibility for control of ragwort on the motorway system.

Chris Mole: As Minister for the Strategic Road Network, I have responsibility for the control of ragwort on motorways in England.

Motorways: Repairs and Maintenance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport 
	(1)  how much his Department  (a) has spent and  (b) plans to spend on the (i) M25 junction 30 improvements in Essex, (ii) M1 junctions 39 to 42 project and (iii) M4 junctions 3 to 12 project; and what the total projected cost of each is;
	(2)  how much his Department  (a) has spent and  (b) plans to spend on the (i) M1 junctions 21 to 30 improvements project, (ii) M25 junctions 27 to 30 widening project, (iii) M25 junction 1b to 3 project, (iv) M1 junction 25 to 28 project and (v) A5117/A550 Deeside Park junction project; and what the total projected cost of each is;
	(3)  how much his Department  (a) has spent and  (b) plans to spend on the (i) A2/A282 Dartford improvement project, (ii) A2 Bean to Cobham: Phase 2 project, (iii) A66 Carkin Moor to Scotch Corner Improvements project, (iv) A66 Greta Bridge to Stephen Bank improvement project and (v) A66 Long Newton junction project; and what the total projected cost of each is.

Chris Mole: The following table shows how much the Department  (a) has spent (actual spend to date) and ( b) plans to spend (forecast future spend) for each project. The table also gives the total projected cost and the current project phase within the project lifecycle (Options-Development-Constructions-Operations).
	
		
			   Actual spend to date (£ million)  Forecast future spend (£ million)  Total projected cost (£ million)  Phase 
			 M25 J30 Improvements in Essex 2.0 2.3 4.3 Options 
			 M1 J39-42 0.0 1.9 1.9 Options 
			 M4J3-12 1.0 0.4 1.4 Options 
			 M1 J21-30 Improvements(1) - - - - 
			 M25 J27-30 Widening 48.9 345.3 394.3 Construction 
			 M25 J1b-3 59.2 0.0 59.2 Operational 
			 M1 J25-28 Widening 267.0 52.9 319.9 Construction 
			 A5117/A557 Deeside Park Junctions 60.5 0.0 60.5 Operational 
			 A2/A282 Dartford Improvements 121.4 0.0 121.4 Operational 
			 A2 Bean to Cobham Phase 2 131.1 0.0 131.1 Operational 
			 A66 Carkin Moor to Scotch Corner Improvements 14.0 0.0 14.0 Operational 
			 A66 Greta Bridge to Stephen Bank Improvement 12.8 0.0 12.9 Operational 
			 A66 Long Newton Junctions 12.4 0.0 12.4 Operational 
			 (1) The M1 J21-30 scheme was not included in the January 2009 Roads Announcement. It was a motorway widening scheme in the former Targeted Programme of Improvements, the first phase of which (widening between junctions 25-28) is under construction. Costs for this scheme are included in the table. 
		
	
	For projects in Options, budgets have only been approved to progress the projects to the end of the current phase. Approval will be sought from Ministers to move to the next phase, together with a new phase budget, at the appropriate time. Ministerial approval will be based on priorities, affordability, completion of statutory processes and the scheme continuing to demonstrate value for money. For these schemes the table gives spend to date and forecast spend to the end of the current phase.
	Note that all forecasts are updated monthly as part of financial monitoring and control and therefore reflect the current position as at end December 2009.

Newspaper Licensing Agency

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what payments  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies made to the Newspaper Licensing Agency in each year since his Department was established.

Chris Mole: The information requested is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  £000 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 DFT(c) 4 4 12 12 12 13 15 
			 HA 0 3 0 2 2 2 2 
			 MCA 0 6 2 2 0 4 2 
			 DVLA 4 3 4 3 2 2 2 
			 DSA 1 2 10 10 12 15 16 
			 VOSA 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 
			 VCA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 GCDA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total DFT 9 18 28 30 29 37 38

Public Holidays

Bob Spink: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of the introduction of an additional public holiday; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mole: No assessment has been made of the cost to the Department of an additional public holiday.

Public Transport: Rural Areas

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what steps he is taking to encourage greater use of public transport in large rural areas.

Sadiq Khan: The Government pay over £58 million annually in rural bus subsidy grant payments and have just published a toolkit for local authorities planning rural transport provision; this is alongside guidance encouraging greater partnership with community transport operators, who provide valuable services in rural areas.
	The Government also support a large number of rural rail services funded via the franchising process and by direct grants to Network Rail. They also provide support to community rail partnerships through the Association of Community Rail Partnerships and small scale grants for projects on designated community rail routes.

Railways

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what guidance his Department has provided to train operating companies on the transport of surf boards on trains.

Chris Mole: The Department for Transport has not issued any guidance to train operating companies on the carriage of surf boards on trains.
	The National Rail Conditions of Carriage sets out the conditions for luggage, articles, animals and cycles. Section II Appendix B includes a table relating to the carriage of specific articles in passenger accommodation, which includes Canoes, Surfboards and Sailboards: none of these are permitted.
	It is for the Association of Train Operating Companies, in consultation with its members and other interested bodies, to consider whether any changes should be proposed to be made to these. Any proposed changes to the National Rail Conditions of Carriage require the approval of the Secretary of State.

Railways: North East

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what his most recent assessment is of the potential for high speed rail services to the North East.

Chris Mole: The Department for Transport is continuing its assessment of the detailed report from High Speed Two on a detailed route proposal for the first stage of a north-south high-speed line between London and the West Midlands, which was received at the end of last year. The report also contains advice on options for extending high-speed services, and high-speed lines, to destinations further north, including the North East. If the Government decide to pursue proposals for high speed rail, we will publish a White Paper setting out plans by the end of March 2010.

Road Traffic

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many miles vehicles, excluding heavy goods vehicles, travelled on  (a) motorways and  (b) dual carriageways in (i) England, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Wales in each of the last five years.

Paul Clark: The estimated miles travelled by vehicles (excluding heavy good vehicles) on motorways and dual carriageways in England, Scotland and Wales from 2004 to 2008 is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  (a) Traffic on Motorways by country: All vehicles( 1)  excluding HGVs, 2004- 08 
			  Billion vehicle miles 
			2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 (i) England 47.3 47.6 48.8 49.3 49.1 
			 (ii) Scotland 3.3 3.3 3.5 3.6 3.6 
			 (iii) Wales 1.9 1.8 1.9 2.0 1.9 
			  Great Britain 52.5 52.8 54.2 54.8 54.7 
			 (1) Includes motorcycles, cars, buses and LGVs.  Source:  DfT-National Road Traffic Survey. 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) Traffic on dual carriageways by country: All vehicles( 1)  excluding HGVs, 2004 - 08 
			  Billion vehicle miles 
			2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 (i) England 45.7 45.5 46.2 45.9 45.8 
			 (ii) Scotland 4.2 4.2 4.3 4.3 4.2 
			 (iii) Wales 3.3 3.2 3.4 3.3 3.4 
			  Great Britain 53.1 52.9 53.9 53.5 53.4 
			 (1) Includes pedal cycles, motorcycles, cars, buses and LGVs.  Source:  DfT-National Road Traffic Survey.

Roads: Accidents

Pete Wishart: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many  (a) serious road injuries and  (b) fatalities resulted from accidents related to drink driving in each of the last four years.

Paul Clark: The information requested can be found in table 3a on page 30 in article 3 in the Reported Road Casualties Great Britain: 2008 Annual Report, copies of which have been deposited in the Libraries of the House.

Roads: Accidents

Denis MacShane: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many  (a) fatal and  (b) other road accidents took place in the Yorkshire and Humber region in each year since 2001.

Paul Clark: The number of  (a) fatal and  (b) other reported personal injury road accidents in the Yorkshire and Humber region in each year since 2001 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Reported personal injury road accidents in Yorkshire and the Humber Government Office region by severity: 2001-08 
			   Accident severity  
			   Fatal  Non-fatal  All personal injury accidents 
			 2001 299 20,029 20,328 
			 2002 294 20,037 20,331 
			 2003 296 19,591 19,887 
			 2004 288 18,488 18,776 
			 2005 276 16,947 17,223 
			 2006 278 16,655 16,933 
			 2007 254 16,190 16,444 
			 2008 203 15,306 15,509

Roads: Finance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich of 11 November 2009,  Official Report, columns 368-70W, which of the non-major projects listed is a  (a) routine maintenance project,  (b) major maintenance project,  (c) local management scheme and  (d) fiscal stimulus project.

Chris Mole: The table which was prepared in answer to the question from the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich of 11 November and which was placed in the Libraries of the House has been updated to indicate which non-major project schemes are routine maintenance projects, major maintenance projects, local network management schemes and fiscal stimulus projects.
	A table containing this information has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport which uncompleted schemes included in the Targeted Programme of Improvements are funded through regional funding allocations; and from what other sources such schemes have been funded.

Sadiq Khan: There are currently three Highways Agency schemes under construction which are funded wholly or partly through the regional funding allocation. These are A3 Hindhead Improvement (expected to open in summer 2011), A421 Bedford to M1 J13 (expected to open in winter 2010) and A46 Newark to Widmerpool Improvement (expected to open in spring 2012). The A46 scheme is partly funded through the regional funding allocation and partly through the national roads programme and fiscal stimulus budgets.
	There are currently over 30 local major schemes (costing over £5 million) under way that are being funded through the regional funding allocation process. The following table indicates these schemes and highlights where the scheme is also being funded through a contribution from other sources of funding.
	
		
			  Region  Scheme name  Other sources of funding (contributions) 
			 Yorkshire and Humber A628 Cudworth and West Green Bypass Local authority 
			 Yorkshire and Humber Bridlington Integrated Transport Plan Local authority 
			 Yorkshire and Humber Kirklees Strengthening and Maintenance Scheme Third party funding 
			 West Midlands Hagley Road Bus Show Case Local authority and third party funding 
			 West Midlands Selly Oak New Road Local authority and third party funding 
			 West Midlands BIA/NEC Public Transport Scheme Local authority and third party funding 
			 West Midlands Rugby Western Relief Road Local authority and developer contributions 
			 West Midlands West Midlands Red Routes Package 1 RFA only 
			 South West Weymouth Relief Road Local authority 
			 South West Greater Bristol Bus Network Local authority and developer contributions 
			 South West Salisbury Integrated Transport Package (Petersfinger Park and Ride) Local authority and developer contributions 
			 South East Sittingbourne Northern Relief Road Local authority, developer contributions and Homes and Communities Agency 
			 South East East Kent Access Phase 2 Local authority 
			 South East M4 Junction 11 and Mereoak Junction Improvement Scheme Local authority and developer contributions 
			 North West A34 Alderley Edge and Nether Alderley Bypass Local authority 
			 North West Manchester Metrolink Phase 3A Local authorities 
			 North West Hall Lane Strategic Gateway Local authority, European funding and third party funding 
			 North West Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramway Upgrade Local authority 
			 Eastern B1115 Stowmarket Relief Road Developer contributions and other third party sources 
			 Eastern Cambridgeshire Guided Busway Developer contributions, local and regional partnerships and local authority. 
			 East Midlands Connecting Derby Phase 2 European Objective 2, the Single Regeneration Budget, the European Urban Programme, the Townscale Heritage Lottery Initiative and local authority 
			 East Midlands Markham Employment Growth Zone Local authority, developer contribution, European funding, third party funding and English Partnerships 
			 East Midlands/Eastern A1073 Spalding to Eye Improvement Scheme Local authority 
			 West Midlands Birmingham New Street Station (Gateway) BERR, Network Rail, Advantage West Midlands, local authority, ITA/PTE, developer contributions and property income 
			 West Midlands A461/A4123 Junction Improvement, Burnt Tree Local authority 
			 West Midlands West Midlands UTC RFA only 
			 West Midlands Wolverhampton Centre Access and Interchange Local authority, developer contributions and West Midlands regional infrastructure funding 
			 North West Carlisle Northern Development Route (CNDR) Private finance 
			 North West Greater Manchester Urban Traffic Control RFA only 
			 North West Greater Manchester Retaining Walls Local authorities 
			 North East Metro Ticketing and Gating Local authority

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much of the budget for the Regional Fund Allocation 2 programme has been allocated to each  (a) Highways Agency scheme of regional significance valued at over five million pounds and  (b) Local Transport major scheme in each region.

Sadiq Khan: Regional Funding Allocation advice was received from regions, excluding London, in February 2009 and the Department responded in July 2009. The advice highlights how each of the regions allocated funding to  (a) Highways Agency schemes of regional significance and  (b) local major schemes.
	I have placed a copy of the advice received from each region and our response in the Libraries of the House.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what allocations were made to each  (a) region and  (b) major scheme from the first round of regional funding allocations in 2005-06.

Sadiq Khan: Guidance for preparing regional funding advice was published in July 2005 and within this guidance there is a section that provides indicative allocations to each to 2015-16.
	In January 2006, each region, excluding London, submitted advice to the Government on where funding should be allocated to major schemes. The Department for Transport responded to this advice in July 2006.
	A copy of the published guidance, advice received from each region and the Department for Transport response has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich of 11 November 2009,  Official Report, columns 368-70W, on roads: finance, which of the  (a) major and  (b) non-major schemes listed are funded from (i) the Regional Funding Allocation 2 programme and (ii) other sources.

Chris Mole: The table which was prepared in answer to the question from the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Mr. Timpson) of 11 November and which was placed in the Libraries of the House has been updated to indicate those schemes funded from the Regional Funding Allocation 2 programme or from other sources.
	Many of the major schemes indicated as being funded from Regional Funding Allocation 2 have been allocated funds to progress through the Options or Development phases but have not been allocated full funding for construction. Funding decisions will be made at various points as the schemes progress through the project lifecycle which will take account of affordability, regional priorities and value for money.
	The updated table has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much he plans to spend under each budget heading from the budget for the National Roads Programme in each year between 2008 and 2014.

Chris Mole: The following table gives the forecast expenditure against each budget heading (options/development/construction) for schemes in the National Roads Programme. For completeness, expenditure is also given for schemes which completed in 2008-09 and 2009-10 and which were included in the January 2009 Roads Announcement.
	
		
			  Forecast expenditure (£ million) 
			   2008-09  2009-10  2010-11  2011-12  2012-13  2013-14  2014-15 
			 Options Phase Budget 10.1 20.0 3.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			 Development Phase Budget 23.4 46.1 21.7 57.9 1.7 5.2 3.0 
			 Construction Phase Budget 178.0 454.8 615.0 618.0 251.8 0.0 0.0 
			 Schemes completing in 2008-09 207.2 5.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport 
	(1)  how much his Department had spent on work on the  (a) A3 Hindhead improvement scheme,  (b) A1 Peterborough to Blyth grade separated junction project and  (c) A421 Bedford to M1 junction 13 project on the latest date for which figures are available; how much it plans to spend on each such project in each of the next three years; and whether such projects are funded through the National Roads Programme;
	(2)  how much his Department had spent on the  (a) A1 Leeming to Barton improvement,  (b) M25 junction 16 to 23 widening project and  (c) M25 junction 27 to 30 widening project on the latest date for which figures are available; how much it plans to spend on each such project in each of the next three years; and whether such projects are funded through the National Roads Programme;
	(3)  how much his Department had spent on the  (a) M1 junction 39 to 42 project,  (b) M3 junction 2 to 4a project,  (c) M6 junction 10a to 13 project,  (d) M60 junction 8 to 12 project and  (e) M62 junction 18 to 20 project on the latest date for which figures are available; how much it plans to spend on each such project in each of the next three years; and whether such projects are funded through the National Roads Programme;
	(4)  how much his Department had spent on the  (a) A1 Dishforth to Leeming improvement,  (b) A1 Bramham to Wetherby project,  (c) M40 junction 15 (Longbridge roundabout) project,  (d) M1 junction 25 to 28 widening project and  (e) M6 junction 8 to 10a north of Birmingham project on the latest date for which figures are available; how much it plans to spend on each such project in each of the next three years; and whether such projects are funded through the National Roads Programme.

Chris Mole: The following table shows how much the Department has spent (spend to end December 2009), and how much it is currently forecasting to spend in the remaining three months of the 2009-10 financial year and in the following three years.
	The table also indicates which schemes are funded from the National Roads Programme and the current phase of each project within the project lifecycle (options-development-construction-operations).
	For projects in options and development, budgets have only been approved to progress the projects to the end of the current phase. Approval will be sought from Ministers to move to the next phase, together with a new phase budget, at the appropriate time. Ministerial decisions will be based on priorities, affordability, completion of statutory processes and the scheme continuing to demonstrate value for money. For these schemes the table gives spend to date and forecast spend to the end of the current phase.
	Please note that all forecasts are updated monthly as part of financial monitoring and control and therefore reflect the current position as at end December 2009.
	
		
			 Forecast spend in each of the next three years (£ million)   
			   Spend to  31 December 2009  (£ million)  Forecast spend  1 January 2010 to  31 March 2010  (£ million )  2010-11  2011-12  2012-13  Funded by the national programme (Yes/No)  Phase 
			 A3 Hindhead Improvement 274.8 19.6 50.8 17.4 0.0 No Construction 
			 A1 Peterborough to Blyth GSJ 92.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 No Operations 
			 A421 Bedford to M1 J13 109.0 20.4 68.9 0.0 0.0 No Construction 
			 A1 Leeming to Barton Improvement 21.9 0.3 1.9 2.2 1.7 Yes Development 
			 M25 J16-23 Widening 111.7 0.6 183.9 190.5 108.6 Yes Construction 
			 M25 J27-30 Widening 48.9 0.6 115.0 183.3 46.5 Yes Construction 
			 M1 J39-42 0.0 0.2 1.7 0.0 0.0 Yes Options 
			 M3 J2-4a 0.6 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 Yes Options 
			 M6 J10a-13 2.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 Yes Options 
			 M60 J8-12 1.5 1.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 Yes Options 
			 M62 J18-20 1.9 1.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 Yes Options 
			 A1 Dishforth to Leeming Improvement 118.2 21.0 91.2 79.7 0.0 Yes Construction 
			 A1 Bramham to Wetherby 72.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Yes Operations 
			 M40 J15 (Longbridge Roundabout) 61.9 4.4 3.9 0.0 0.0 Yes Construction 
			 M1 J25-28 Widening 267.0 17.6 35.2 0.0 0.0 Yes Construction 
			 M6 J8-10a North of Birmingham 84.0 26.6 32.0 0.0 0.0 No Construction

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much of the £6 billion allocated for the National Roads Programme was used to complete work on the  (a) M6 Carlisle to Guardsmill project,  (b) M1 junctions 6a to 10 widening project,  (c) A14 Haughley New St to Stowmarket project,  (d) M62 junction 6 improvements and  (e) M25 junctions 1b to 3 widening project.

Chris Mole: The following table gives the amount spent on completing work on the listed schemes out of the up to £6 billion allocated to the National Roads Programme in the January 2009 Roads Announcement.
	
		
			  Amount allocated from £6 billion National Roads Programme 
			   £ million 
			 M6 Carlisle to Guardsmill 31.4 
			 M1 J6a-10 Widening 82.5 
			 A14 Haughley New Street to Stowmarket 14.0 
			 M62 J6 Improvements 14.7 
			 M25 J1b-3 widening 15.1 
			 Total 157.7

Roads: Snow and Ice

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether his Department has provided guidance to local authorities on 
	(1)  which buildings or public services should be prioritised for maintenance of access to them by salting or gritting during adverse winter weather conditions;
	(2)  the priority to be given to gritting pavements during severe weather conditions.

Sadiq Khan: Winter service, including decisions about the relative priority of salting carriageways and footways or the relative priority of ensuring access to services and buildings, is a matter for each local highway authority.
	Advice on developing and operating a winter service strategy is included in the UK Roads Liaison Group's code of practice for highways maintenance management, Well-maintained Highways.

Roads: Snow and Ice

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much his Department spent on road  (a) salt and  (b) grit in each of the last 12 years.

Sadiq Khan: The Highways Agency uses salt for the treatment of its network during winter and does not use grit.
	The Highways Agency's routine and winter service is delivered by its contracted service providers. The delivery of these services, including the purchase of rock salt, is paid for within lump sum payments covering a range of defined activities. The individual amount specifically spent on the purchase of road-salt is not readily discernable from the service delivery lump sum payments and cannot therefore be provided.
	Annual salt usage for the strategic road network varies greatly according to the weather faced, typically ranging 150,000 to 300,000 tonnes per annum, at an average cost from domestic salt suppliers of approximately £20 to £25 per tonne.

Roads: Snow and Ice

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 2 February 2010,  Official Report, column 178W, on roads: salt, how many tonnes of road salt  (a) each local authority and  (b) the Highways Agency held at the latest date for which information is available.

Sadiq Khan: An updated table has been placed in the Libraries of the House, which shows how many tonnes of salt local authorities estimate they have available, according to the local authority salt audit returns the Department for Transport had received at 10.00 am on 8 February.

Taxis: Safety

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that local authorities prevent vehicles subject to a safety recall by Toyota from being used by licensed taxi companies; and if he will make a statement.

Sadiq Khan: The Department for Transport has been advised that the recall has not been instigated on grounds of safety and so does not consider it appropriate to prevent these vehicles being used. The manufacturer has advised that at no time will drivers be without brakes and the vehicles remain safe in service.
	The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, the Department for Transport agency which deals with day-to-day vehicle safety recall issues, is in regular contact with Toyota and we are doing everything we can to help them recall vehicles in the shortest possible timescale. Ministers are monitoring the situation closely.

Transport: Finance

Bob Neill: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what role the Government Offices for the Regions have in the determination of allocations of regional and local transport funding.

Sadiq Khan: Officials in Government offices for the regions, alongside officials in central Departments, provide advice to Ministers on funding decisions.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport when he plans to respond to Question 316500, on the Government Car and Despatch Agency, tabled on 3 February 2010.

Paul Clark: I replied to the hon. Member today.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan: Overseas Aid

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that funding allocated by his Department in respect of Afghanistan is spent as intended; and what audit trail there is in respect of such funding.

Ivan Lewis: Funding in Afghanistan is delegated to our ambassador, or in his/her absence, the Charge d'Affaires, who acts as the senior responsible officer and chair of the Afghanistan Delivery Group. The role of this decision-making body is to ensure that expenditure is authorised, controlled and monitored in accordance with agreed UK priorities and outcomes.
	All UK civilian funding in Afghanistan is aligned to strategic objectives and subject to a robust planning regime. A programme office, based in Kabul, oversees governance processes that monitor expenditure and reports progress to the Afghanistan Delivery Group. Expenditure, both in Afghanistan and London, is also monitored by budget holders, subjected to independent external audit by the National Audit Office, and incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury Handbook on Regularity and Propriety.

Antarctica

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications the Polar Regions Unit has  (a) received and  (b) granted for British expeditions to Antarctica in the last three years.

Chris Bryant: The Polar Regions Unit received and issued 82 permit applications during the last three years, comprising 26 applications during 2009, 27 applications during 2008 and 29 applications during 2007.

Belarus: Capital Punishment

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 26 November 2009,  Official Report, columns 300-1W, on Belarus: capital punishment, what information he has received on the plight of Vasily Yuzepchuk and Andrei Zhuk; and what representations he has made on their behalf to the government of Belarus.

Chris Bryant: Vasily Yuzepchuk and Andrei Zhuk have exhausted the legal appeals process. The sentence can now only be overturned by an appeal of clemency to President Lukashenko.
	The UK is opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. Together with EU partners, we promote the abolition of capital punishment around the world. We have continued to raise these cases with the Belarusian authorities, and to support a process of public dialogue on the death penalty. We worked closely with the Council of Europe who organised an information campaign in Belarus. Our ambassador explained our views in an interview with the Belarusian media in January 2010. We are pleased that the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus has set up a task force to study the issue, and continue to urge the Belarusian Government to declare a moratorium on the use of the death penalty.

British Indian Ocean Territory: Environment Protection

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of Mauritius on the creation of a marine protected area around the Chagos archipelago.

Chris Bryant: Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials discussed environmental protection and the possible creation of a marine protected area with Mauritian officials in bilateral talks on the British Indian Ocean Territory on 14 January 2009 and on 21 July 2009. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary also discussed the proposal with the Mauritian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister in November 2009.

British Indian Ocean Territory: Environment Protection

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the remit is of the PEW Environment Group in providing services under his Department's contract for public consultation on the proposed marine protected area around the Chagos Archipelago; what the cost to his Department was of that contract; when he expects that group to report; to whom that group will report; and when he plans to publish the outcome of that consultation.

Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not have a contract with the PEW Environment Group. The Group, which is an independent non-profit organisation is part of the Chagos Environment Network which has advocated the possible creation of a marine protected area in the British Indian Ocean Territory.

British Indian Ocean Territory: Environment Protection

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration his Department has given to pursuing the proposed Marine Protected Area project as a joint initiative with the government of Mauritius.

Chris Bryant: Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials discussed environmental protection and the possible creation of a marine protected area with Mauritian officials in bilateral talks on the British Indian Ocean Territory on 14 January 2009 and on 21 July 2009. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary also discussed the proposal with the Mauritian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister in November 2009.

Burma: Politics and Government

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment his Department has made of the political situation in Burma.

Ivan Lewis: The Government remain deeply concerned about the lack of progress towards democracy and respect for human rights in Burma. Planned elections will have no international legitimacy while over 2,100 political prisoners remain in detention. Aung San Suu Kyi's appeal has reached its final stage. We call on the military government to release her, along with all other political prisoners, and begin a dialogue with the opposition and ethnic groups that would lay the foundations for a genuine and inclusive transition to democracy.
	As elections approach, the democratic opposition and Burma's ethnic groups face a difficult dilemma. If they participate in the elections they risk legitimising a process they know to be flawed. Boycott the elections and they risk further marginalisation and exclusion from the political process. This is not a decision we can or should presume to make for them.

Burma: Politics and Government

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he plans to take in response to Burma's announcement that plans are underway to hold elections in a systematic way in 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The UK position on planned elections in Burma is well known. Unless Aung San Suu Kyi, and all other political prisoners are released, and the regime initiates an inclusive dialogue with the democratic opposition and ethnic groups, the elections will have no credibility or international legitimacy. As the elections approach, the UK will work to maintain tough EU sanctions targeted at the regime's economic interests, and press Burma's neighbours, including China, India and ASEAN countries to use their influence to secure real progress. We will also work in the UN's human rights bodies to highlight the ongoing and systematic human rights abuses in the country.
	The planned elections should be an historic opportunity to reverse Burma's steady decline into poverty, stagnation and international isolation. It is difficult to be optimistic that the military regime will seize this opportunity, but the UK will continue to use all diplomatic channels to press them to do so.

Burma: War Crimes

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received requesting him to propose to the United Nations Security Council the establishment of a commission of inquiry into allegations of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed by the Burmese regime; and what steps he has taken in consequence.

Ivan Lewis: Since early December 2009, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received more than 70 letters from MPs and members of the public calling for the UK to support a UN Commission of Inquiry into crimes against humanity in Burma. We have also taken note of the Early Day Motion on this issue, and I have met campaign groups, NGOs and representatives of ethnic groups based on the Thai/Burma border, to hear their views.
	In consequence of these representations and discussions, the Government have given further careful thought to the question of a UN Commission of Inquiry. We regularly test the level of consensus for action on Burma at the UN through our efforts to secure Security Council discussion. We secured tough resolutions in the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council and will continue to raise abuse of human rights in the year ahead. Our assessment remains that an attempt to establish a Commission of Inquiry would not receive the requisite support from a significant number of countries and in particular veto holding members of the Security Council. We are concerned that if we tried and failed to secure agreement this would be interpreted by the Burmese regime as a diplomatic victory and approval of its conduct. The Government will nonetheless continue to do all they can to highlight the appalling and systematic abuse of human rights in Burma, and work to secure as robust an international response as possible.

Democratic Republic of Congo: War Crimes

Brooks Newmark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo on the arrest and transfer to the International Criminal Court of General Bosco Ntaganda.

Ivan Lewis: We, along with our European counterparts, continue to press for Bosco Ntaganda to be handed over for trial by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The UK strongly supports the ICC and we welcome the Court's investigations into events in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Conflict in the region has been marked by atrocities, and those responsible for them should be held to account.
	Our ambassador in Kinshasa discussed the arrest warrant with the UN Secretary General's Special Representative for the DRC, Alan Doss. He received assurances that the UN mission would support the DRC Government in carrying out the warrant. He has also raised the question of Bosco Ntaganda's position in meetings with the Foreign Minister. He has sought reassurances that Bosco Ntaganda will be handed over to the ICC at the earliest possible opportunity.

Departmental Public Expenditure

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 10 February 2010,  Official Report, columns 54-58WS, on Foreign and Commonwealth Office finances, how the planned foreign exchange adjustment account will operate; and in what ways it will  (a) resemble and  (b) differ from the Overseas Price Mechanism.

Chris Bryant: The foreign exchange adjustment account will be a departmental unallocated provision (DUP) which the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) will draw on as necessary to manage the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations. It is not a return to the Overseas Price Movements Mechanism under which the FCO budget was adjusted from the Treasury Reserve to reflect foreign exchange rate movements.

Departmental Public Expenditure

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 10 February 2010,  Official Report, columns 54-58WS, on Foreign and Commonwealth Office finances, which assets he expects to sell in order to raise the sum intended in the statement; and what the  (a) current book value and  (b) estimated market value is of each such asset.

Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office publishes details of disposals quarterly in a letter to the Foreign Affairs Committee. For commercial reasons and in order to realise maximum value from disposals, we do not publish details of planned disposals in advance.

Departmental Public Expenditure

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 10 February 2010,  Official Report, columns 54-58WS, on Foreign and Commonwealth Office finances, what the  (a) original agreed budget for 2010-11 and  (b) budget reduction agreed in consequence of the effect of changes in the value of sterling is for (i) the British Council, (ii) the BBC World Service, (iii) Foreign and Commonwealth Office Services and (iv) each other agency and non-departmental public body for which his Department is responsible.

Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) grant in aid to the BBC World Service for 2010-11 is £267 million in resources and capital. The FCO grant in aid to the British Council for the same period is £194 million in resources and capital. The BBC World Service will make available £7.7 million to the FCO including an underspend of £4 million in 2009-10. The British Council will make available £5 million to the FCO. These contributions will not result in permanent reductions in their baseline, but are for 2010-11 only.
	FCO Services Trading Fund will make a special dividend payment to the FCO of £3 million in financial year 2010-11.
	No other non-departmental public bodies or agencies for which the FCO is responsible plan to make similar contributions to the FCO budget in 2010-11.

Departmental Public Expenditure

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 10 February 2010,  Official Report, columns 54-58WS, on Foreign and Commonwealth Office finances, how much his Department expects to save in 2010-11 as a result of each of the measures set out in the statement.

Chris Bryant: The value of the contributions from the British Council and the BBC World Service to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) budget for 2010-11 are expected to be £7.7 million and £5 million respectively, while FCO Services Trading Fund will make a special dividend payment of £3 million to the FCO. Details of the FCO programme of streamlining have yet to be finalised.

Departmental Recruitment

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department and its agencies spent on external recruitment consultants in the last year for which figures are available.

Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is committed to recruiting a talented and diverse work force, ensuring that the most qualified candidates from the widest range of backgrounds apply. The FCO sometimes uses external recruitment agencies to manage recruitment campaigns for new entrants, and where specialist knowledge of a specific job market is required; for instance Overseas Security Managers and procurement specialists. Outsourced recruitment is more cost-effective than running all recruitment campaigns through a larger in-house recruitment team and is a model used extensively across central Government. In 2008-09 FCO Recruitment spent £1,115,890 and FCO Services £839,790 on external recruitment agencies in order to help meet these aims. These figures include advertising and other costs involved in the recruitment campaigns and reflect an increase on 2007-08 spend due to a greater number of campaigns, many of them in specialist areas.

Diplomatic Service Appeal Board

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times the Diplomatic Service Appeal Board has met in each of the last three years.

Chris Bryant: The Diplomatic Service Appeal Board (DSAB) has met four times since 2007 to consider the appeals of members of the Diplomatic Service dismissed from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). In addition, DSAB members have met each year since 2007 for an Annual General Meeting with the FCO's Director General for Change and Delivery and a senior manager from Human Resources.

Falkland Islands: Expenditure

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much Government funding for non-military purposes has been allocated to the Falkland Islands since 1982.

Chris Bryant: Between 1982 and 1998 the Falkland Islands received £55.6 million in funding from the UK to help with the development of the islands. However, since 1998 the Falkland Islands have been self-sufficient in all areas except for defence.

Falkland Islands: Oil

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of  (a) profits and (b) royalties from oil reserves from the South Atlantic he expects to be allocated to (i) the Falkland Islands, (ii) other Overseas Territories in the South Atlantic and (iii) the UK.

Chris Bryant: The natural resources of the Falkland Islands belong to the Falkland Islands However, the Falkland Islands Government have previously offered to share some of any future hydrocarbons related revenues with the UK Government.

Falkland Islands: Oil

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with Ministerial colleagues the merits of sharing by all overseas territories in the South Atlantic the anticipated financial revenues generated from oil reserves in that region; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Bryant: The South Atlantic Overseas Territories have the right to freely dispose of their natural wealth and resources. Should there be commercially viable hydrocarbons finds in the region, any sharing of revenues would be a matter for the Government of the overseas territory concerned

Falkland Islands: Population

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the number of residents of the Falkland Islands, excluding military personnel, who are  (a) permanent residents,  (b) UK citizens from the Island of St. Helena,  (c) other UK citizens and  (d) not UK citizens.

Chris Bryant: Responsibility for non-military population statistics rests with the Government of the Falkland Islands who hold the requested information.

Government Hospitality: Wines

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the events where wine from the Government wine cellar was served between 25 December 2009 and 25 January 2010.

Chris Bryant: holding answer 28 January 2010
	The following table shows the events at which wine from the Government Hospitality cellar was served between 25 December 2009 and 25 January 2010.
	
		
			  2010  Event title  Host Department 
			 11 January Lunch: Learning and Technology World Forum DCSF 
			 11 January Dinner: Learning and Technology World Forum British Council Dinner DCSF 
			 12 January Lunch: Turkish Foreign Minister FCO 
			 13 January Lunch: UK-India Education Forum DCSF 
			 13 January Reception: UK-India Education Forum DCSF 
			 14 January Treasury Lunch Her Majesty's Treasury 
			 14 January Dinner: Defence Equipment MOD 
			 14 January Reception: Diversity in Public Appointments Government Equalities Office 
			 18 January Dinner: Nobel Laureates 10 Downing Street 
			 18 January Dinner: Leeds University Alumni Ministry of Justice 
			 19 January Reception: UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) Defence Services UKTI/MOD 
			 20 January Dinner: Deputy Defence Minister Korea MOD 
			 25 January Lunch: Inter Parliamentary Union Group FCO 
			 25 January Lunch: French Chief of Defence Staff MOD 
			 25 January Dinner: Chevening Fellowship FCO

Iraq Committee of Inquiry

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many  (a) documents and  (b) other items of information in electronic format provided by his Department to the Iraq Inquiry that Inquiry has sought to publish under the procedure set out in the protocol on documents and other written and electronic information; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the right hon. Tessa Jowell, Minister for the Cabinet Office, on 9 February 2010,  Official Report, column 894W.

Libya and Egypt: Land Mines

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide assistance to the Libyan and Egyptian governments to help clear land mines between Tobruk and El Alamein left over from the Second World War.

Chris Bryant: The Government are fully committed to ending the suffering caused by anti-personnel landmines. We continue to encourage Libya and Egypt to sign the Ottawa convention, which would give them greater access to international and UK demining assistance and victim support. In May 2009, we provided the Egyptian Government with all Ministry of Defence-held information, including maps, relating to landmines in North West Egypt. We have also provided the Libyan Government with similar information. In 2007, the Department for International Development, which has lead responsibility for international demining assistance, contributed £250,000 to a UN Development Programme mine clearance project in Egypt.

Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission employs; and what the Commission's salary cost was in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Chris Bryant: None and nil.

Mauritius: Foreign Relations

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the state of relations between the UK and Mauritius.

Ivan Lewis: There is no regular formalised process for assessing the state of relations between the UK and allies such as Mauritius, although annual informal assessments are made as part of every UK mission's business planning process. UK relations with Mauritius are broad and wide, with regular contacts at all levels. Later this year, we will be marking the 200th anniversary of UK involvement in Mauritius. More immediately, the Privy Council will hold their second sitting in Mauritius this April.

Mauritius: Foreign Relations

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Ministers and officials in his Department last met the Mauritian government to discuss bilateral issues.

Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met the Mauritian Foreign Minister, Dr. Arvin Boolell, on 28 November 2009 during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Trinidad and Tobago. Officials met representatives of the Mauritian Government on 14 January 2009 and 21 July 2009 for bilateral talks on the British Indian Ocean Territory. And our high commissioner to Mauritius maintains regular contact with his host Government and meets Mauritian Government Ministers and officials on a weekly basis.

Somalia: Human Trafficking

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 25 November 2009,  Official Report, columns 165W, on Somalia: human trafficking, what  (a) discussions and  (b) correspondence he has had with the Somalian government on human trafficking in that country and within the region.

Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not held discussions or had correspondence with the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG) on human trafficking that occurs in Somalia or the wider region. We have held detailed discussions at ministerial and official level with the TFG on peace and security efforts and how we can best support progress and development in Somalia, in line with the UN-led Djibouti Peace Agreement. Establishing peace and stability for the Somali people will be fundamental to addressing the underlying causes of human trafficking in Somalia in the longer-term.
	The UK is very concerned at the high levels of organised immigration crime in the region and will raise the issue with East African Community member states at a migration seminar later this month. Moreover, the UK has established various projects in the region to address migration issues, including organised immigration crime.

Ukraine: Famine

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Bolton South East of 6 October 2008,  Official Report, column 234W, on Ukraine: human rights, what the policy of the Government is on the recognition as genocide of events which led to the Holodomor famine in Ukraine in 1932-33; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Bryant: The Holodomor was an appalling, man-made human tragedy and the UK fully recognises its importance in Ukraine's history. The UK has co-operated with Ukraine to promote remembrance and increase public awareness of the Holodomor. We have supported statements at the UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe honouring the memory of those who perished in the Holodomor and encouraging the promotion of its remembrance. In 2008, His Royal Highness The Duke of York, Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie of York, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and my hon. Friend Caroline Flint, the then Minister for Europe all paid their respects to those who suffered so terribly in 1932-33 by laying wreaths at the Holodomor memorial in Kyiv.
	My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister was represented at the events to commemorate the 75(th) anniversary of the Holodomor held in Kyiv on 22 November 2008, and the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary sent written messages of condolence to mark this important occasion. The UK was also represented at the 75(th) anniversary memorial event in London.
	With regard to the question of whether the events of 1932-33 should be recognised as genocide, the UK does not judge that the evidence is sufficiently unequivocal to categorise the Holodomor as genocide as defined by the 1948 UN Convention on Genocide. However, we do recognise that there is a division of opinion among academics on this matter and we will continue to follow the debate closely, particularly in the light of any further emerging evidence.

TREASURY

Banks: Africa

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what procedures his Department has in place to ensure that  (a) illegal and  (b) illegally-acquired funds from African countries are not deposited with UK banks; whether his Department has undertaken any recent investigations into such practices; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Money Laundering Regulations 2007 require banks and other regulated businesses to identify 'Politically Exposed Persons' (PEPs) and assess whether and to what extent they present a heightened risk before undertaking business with them, including opening new accounts or policies. Such transactions are subject to enhanced forms of scrutiny, including measures to establish the source of wealth and funds involved.
	PEPs include individuals entrusted by an overseas government with prominent public functions, such as Heads of State or Heads of Government, senior officials, and their immediate family and close associates.
	HM Treasury chairs the cross-government 'PEPs Strategic Group' which co-ordinates action to address the threats posed by corrupt PEPs.
	The police are responsible for investigating such practices and have specific units responsible for doing so.

Council Tax

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new  (a) homes and  (b) affordable homes in each (i) local authority and (ii) region were placed in council tax band (A) A, (B) B, (C) C, (D) D, (E) E, (F) F, (G) G and (H) H in each of the last three years.

Ian Pearson: The information requested on the number of new homes has been placed in the Library. The Valuation Office Agency does not hold information to identify new affordable homes separately.

Council Tax: Valuation

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what proportion of dwellings have one or more  (a) dwelling house and  (b) significant code assigned to them on the Valuation Office Agency's property database for council tax valuations and revaluations.

Ian Pearson: I refer the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst to the answer given on 26 October 2009,  Official Report, column 142W.

Council Tax: Valuation

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many notification changes with code CL26 have been made to the Valuation Office Agency's council tax list in 2009-10 to date.

Ian Pearson: The total number of notification changes from 1 April 2009 to 11 February 2010 with code CL26 was 29,572 representing 0.1 per cent. of the dwellings in valuation lists for England and Wales.

Council Tax: Valuation

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer of 3 November 2009,  Official Report, column 840W, on council tax: valuation, how many times the Valuation Office Agency has reduced the council tax band of a dwelling due to the presence of a nearby Traveller encampment in the last three months.

Ian Pearson: This information cannot be provided other than at disproportionate cost. Although all changes to council tax bands are entered on the Valuation Office Agency's (VOA's) computer system, this cannot be interrogated to establish the precise reasons why a change in council tax band has occurred. The reasons can only be established by examining each record in turn.

Crown Lands and Estates: Canvey Island

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what interest the Crown Estate holds in the area of land to the seaward side of the Canvey Island sea defences; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Crown Estate does not own any foreshore or seabed around the entirety of Canvey Island.

Departmental Consultants

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many consultants employed by his Department and its agencies have been paid  (a) in total and  (b) in reimbursable expenses in each of the last 10 years.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Information on spending on consultancy between 2001-02 and 2007-08 is shown in table A3 on page 111 of the 2007-08 annual report (CM 7408) and spending in 2008-09 on table 5c on page 107 of the 2008-09 annual report available from
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/dep_perf_reports_index.htm
	Information on spending prior to 2001-02 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Information on reimbursable expenses could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The pre-Budget report announced that consultancy spend across Government would be further reduced by 50 per cent. by 2012.

Departmental Coordination

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the outcomes were of the proof of concept trials undertaken by HM Revenue and Customs, the Department for Work and Pensions and 12 local authorities as referred to in the report on service transformation by Sir David Varney.

Stephen Timms: The pilot exercise referred to formed part of the In and Out of Work project, designed to encourage those who frequently move in and out of work and who claim benefits and/or tax credits to take up employment. It was also designed to improve customers' experience of dealing with government by reducing the number of times they have to engage with government services and the amount of information they have to provide.
	The pilot exercise showed that collaborative work between HM Revenue and Customs, the Department for Work and Pensions and local authorities resulted in:
	a 15 per cent. reduction in the average time taken to make payments of benefits to customers; and
	evidence that the process prevented overpayments of tax credits by ensuring that payments were adjusted quickly when a customer left employment and that housing benefit payments were adjusted more quickly in response to changes in employment.
	This improvement for housing benefit processing times was coupled with a significant reduction in the resource required to process these claims, as local authorities no longer have to contact customers for details of their circumstances.
	Customer research following the exercise indicated that:
	84 per cent. of customers who went through the process now understood the information that was needed to adjust their housing benefit and council tax benefit payments;
	48 per cent. of customers with previous experience of claiming benefits stated that the pilot process improved the service that they received; and
	77 per cent. of customers rated the way the organisations worked together as good.
	The improved customer perception of the service also reduces customers' concerns around how their benefit claims will be handled. This in turn encourages them to take up work, particularly short-term work, confident that they will receive the right support from government when they most need it.
	Following this successful pilot exercise, on 16 October 2008 the Government announced the phased national roll out of the service, which was completed in December 2009.

Departmental Energy

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the estimated  (a) amount and  (b) cost was of energy used in his Department and its agencies in each year since 1997; what proportion of the energy used was generated from renewable sources in each of those years; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells (Greg Clark) on 1 April 2009,  Official Report, column 1200W.
	HM Treasury is committed to improving its environmental performance in the use of resources and to reducing its energy use year on year.
	Detailed information on the Treasury Group's sustainable performance by building for the years in question were published in HM Treasury's Departmental Report for 2007-08 (Cm 7408). Updates on progress will be provided annually.

Domicile

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many UK citizens had permanent residence in the UK but were either not resident in the UK for tax purposes or did not have UK domicile status in each year since 2000.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: HMRC does not collect figures relating to the numbers of UK citizens, or other categories of British national, resident in the UK. This is because citizenship and nationality are of very limited relevance to an individual's liability to tax under domestic legislation, although they can play a part in resolving treaty residence in cases where an individual is resident both here and in one of the countries with which the UK has a double taxation convention.

Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue 
	(1)  accrued to the Exchequer from duties on sales of alcohol in Northern Ireland in each of the last 12 months;
	(2)  has accrued to the Exchequer from value added tax collected in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months; and what proportion of that revenue accrued from sales of alcohol.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Historical alcohol duty revenue figures for the UK can be found in Table 2 of any of HM Revenue and Customs Alcohol Bulletins, copies of which can be found at:
	https://www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task=bulletinshasFlashPlayer=true
	Information on revenue from VAT and duty on alcohol in Northern Ireland is not available.

Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how much revenue accrued to the Exchequer from alcohol excise duties on spirits in the last 12 months; and what estimates were made of such revenue for that period in the last three years;
	(2)  how much revenue has accrued to the Exchequer from tax on the sale of  (a) domestically-produced and  (b) imported spirits in each of the last 12 months.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Historical receipts of duty collected from spirits can be found in Table 2 of the HM Revenue and Customs Spirits Bulletin, a copy of which can be found at:
	https://www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task=bullspirits
	Estimates for domestically-produced or imported spirits are not available.

Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Tamworth of 21 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1675W, on excise duties: alcoholic drinks, what percentage of the average price of a  (a) pint of 4 per cent. beer,  (b) a 70cl bottle of 37 per cent. spirits and  (c) a 75cl bottle of 13 per cent. wine comprised tax in each of the last 10 years.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: HMRC publishes data on the percentage of the average price of various alcohol products that is comprised of tax in the Alcohol Factsheet. This can be found in Tables 3.1 to 3.8 at:
	https://www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task=factalcohol

Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax has been recovered in the sale of seized contraband  (a) beer,  (b) wine and  (c) spirits in each of the last five years.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: HMRC's policy is not to sell seized alcohol due to the potential risks with Health and Safety and trade descriptions. Seized alcohol is disposed through a specialist contractor that uses environmentally sound methods.

Feltham

Alan Keen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Feltham and Heston constituency, the effects on that constituency of changes to the Department's policies since 1997.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 Census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at:
	http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk./
	The Government have put in place a broad programme of reform since 1997. Over the decade to 2007, the economic performance of all parts of the UK has improved considerably.
	The global recession has had a negative impact on economic activity in all areas of the UK. However, the economy was starting from a position of strength and is actively supported by policies implemented by the Government, including the fiscal stimulus and a significant package of support for those out of work.
	In Feltham and Heston people are benefiting from this investment. Over the second half of 2009, more than 760 people moved off of the claimant count each month on average. The claimant count fell for two consecutive months in October and November. At the end of 2009, claimant count unemployment is still nearly 3 per cent. lower and long-term unemployment 97 per cent. lower than in May 1997.

Financial Institutions: Directors

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the appointment of a proportion of non-executive directors of financial institutions by organisations other than the financial institution in question.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Appointments to boards of companies are a matter for the company and their shareholders in line with the statutory framework in the Companies Act 2006. Shareholders are responsible for holding directors accountable for their performance and stewardship and deciding whether to appoint or reappoint directors.

Financial Services Authority

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to extend the scope of Financial Services Authority regulation to include second charge and buy-to-let mortgage lending.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Government's consultation on extending the scope of FSA regulation to second charge and buy-to-let mortgage lending closed on 15 February. The Government will consider the responses from stakeholders and set out their plans in due course.

Financial Services: Standards

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many warning notices were issued to companies by the Financial Services Authority in each year since 2001.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The matter raised in this question is the responsibility of the Financial Services Authority, whose day-to-day operations are independent from Government. I have asked the FSA to write to the hon. Member.

Fiscal Policy

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 7 January 2009,  Official Report, column 564W, on fiscal policy, if he will place in the Library a copy of the latest review of fiscal consolidation measures undertaken in other advanced economies produced by his Department.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Government will set out their analysis of the fiscal position and updated projections for the public finances in the Budget in the usual way.

Fraud: Alcoholic Drinks

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff of his Department work on the recovery of duty lost through fraud on alcohol sales.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: There are no figures available for the number of staff in HMRC or the UK Border Agency (UKBA) working on the recovery of duty lost through fraud on alcohol sales. This is because officers are deployed flexibly across a number of threats.

Government Securities

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of gilts has been bought by  (a) the Bank of England and  (b) other banks operating in the UK who are regulated by the Financial Services Authority in the last 12 months.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Bank of England has purchased £198,275 million of gilts via the Asset Purchase Facility, and £815 million for its own balance sheet purposes in the last 12 months. Please note that the amounts are shown in proceeds (i.e. amount paid) terms and that In the Asset Purchase Facility the Bank purchases only conventional gilts with a residual maturity of greater than three years (prior to August, conventional gilts with a residual maturity of greater than five and less than 25 years).
	Net investment in British Government securities by deposit-taking banks is available in the Bank of England's Monetary and Financial Statistics publication page T51, table B1.2, column TBMH, available at:
	http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/statistics/ms/2010/jan/bankstats_full.pdf

Hidden Economy

Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the amount of tax lost as a result of the hidden economy in each of the last five financial years.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: An estimate of the tax gap as a result of the hidden economy was published at 2009 pre-Budget report in Measuring Tax Gaps 2009, available at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/measuring-tax-gaps.pdf

Hospital Beds: Wakefield

Jon Trickett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many beds there were in NHS hospitals in Wakefield in each year since 1997.

Ann Keen: I have been asked to reply.
	The following tables show the average daily number of beds for national health service providers around Wakefield for the years 1997-98 to 2008-09, the latest date at which data is available.
	
		
			  Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust 
			   Beds in wards open 
			   Overnight  Day only  Residential care beds 
			 1997-98 * * * 
			 1998-99 * * * 
			 1999-2000 * * * 
			 2000-01 * * * 
			 2001-02 * * * 
			 2002-03 1,509 93 - 
			 2003-04 1,899 96 - 
			 2004-05 1,398 89 - 
			 2005-06 1,457 90 - 
			 2006-07 1,405 95 - 
			 2007-08 1,359 96 - 
			 2008-09 1,342 115 - 
		
	
	
		
			  Pinderfields and Pontefract Hospitals NHS Trust 
			   Beds in wards open 
			   Overnight  Day only  Residential care beds 
			 1997-98 1,085 36 - 
			 1998-99 1,064 58 - 
			 1999-2000 1,050 58 - 
			 2000-01 1,063 61 - 
			 2001-02 1,063 61 - 
			 2002-03 * * * 
			 2003-04 * * * 
			 2004-05 * * * 
			 2005-06 * * * 
			 2006-07 * * * 
			 2007-08 * * * 
			 2008-09 * * * 
		
	
	
		
			  South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust 
			   Beds in wards open 
			   Overnight  Day only  Residential care beds 
			 1997-98 * * * 
			 1998-99 * * * 
			 1999-2000 * * * 
			 2000-01 * * * 
			 2001-02 * * * 
			 2002-03 727 - - 
			 2003-04 622 - - 
			 2004-05 534 - - 
			 2005-06 477 - - 
			 2006-07 464 - - 
			 2007-08 453 - - 
			 2008-09 457 - - 
		
	
	
		
			  Wakefield and Pontefract Community Health NHS Trust 
			   Beds in wards open 
			   Overnight  Day only  Residential care beds 
			 1997-98 460 - 42 
			 1998-99 443 - 42 
			 1999-2000 392 - 33 
			 2000-01 380 - 33 
			 2001-02 380 - 22 
			 2002-03 * * * 
			 2003-04 * * * 
			 2004-05 * * * 
			 2005-06 * * * 
			 2006-07 * * * 
			 2007-08 * * * 
			 2008-09 * * * 
			  Notes: 1. The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust was formed in April 2002 following the merger of the Dewsbury Healthcare NHS Trust (acute services) and the Pinderfields and Pontefract Hospitals NHS Trust. 2. The South West Yorkshire Mental Health NHS Trust was formed in April 2002 following the merger of the Dewsbury Healthcare NHS Trust (mental health services), the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust (mental health services) and the Wakefield and Pontefract Community Health NHS Trust.  Source: Department of Health KH03

Income Tax

Hywel Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the amount of revenue that would be lost in 2010-11 if the personal tax allowance was raised to £10,000.

Stephen Timms: The information requested can be approximated from HM Revenue and Customs' table 1.6 'Direct effects of illustrative tax changes', available at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/tax_expenditures/table1-6.pdf

Income Tax

Hywel Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the additional amount of revenue that would be raised in 2010-11 if an income tax rate of 50 per cent. was charged on incomes over £100,000 per annum.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 4 February 2010
	The information requested is available only at disproportionate cost, due to the work needed to take account of the potentially significant behavioural responses.
	The amount of additional revenue that would be raised if incomes at £100,000 or above were charged at 50 per cent., excluding behavioural responses, is estimated to be around £2.0 billion for 2010-11. This estimate is based on the 2006-07 Survey of Personal Incomes projected forward using pre-Budget 2009 assumptions. In practice, however, behavioural responses would reduce this yield significantly.

Income Tax

Hywel Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the additional amount of revenue that would be raised in 2010-11 if the national insurance contribution ceiling was removed.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 4 February 2010
	The additional amount of revenue that would be raised from the removal of the upper earnings limit for employees paying Class 1 national insurance contributions and the upper profits limit for self employed individuals paying Class 4 contributions is estimated to be around £11 billion in 2010-11.
	This figure excludes any estimate of behavioural effects which are likely to be significant given the scale of the change. The estimate is consistent with the 2009 pre-Budget report assumptions.

Income Tax

Hywel Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the additional amount of revenue that would be raised in 2010-11 if the income tax rate of 60 per cent. was charged on incomes over £250,000 per annum.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 4 February 2010
	The information requested is available only at disproportionate cost, due to the work needed to take account of the potentially significant behavioural responses.
	The amount of additional revenue that would be raised if incomes at £250,000 or above were charged at 60 per cent., with a rate of 4.5 per cent. for dividend income, excluding behavioural responses, is estimated to be around £3.5 billion for 2010-11. This estimate is based on the 2006-07 Survey of Personal Incomes projected forward using pre-Budget 2009 assumptions. In practice, however, behavioural responses would reduce this yield significantly.

Income Tax

Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the percentage of income tax due which was collected in  (a) Scotland and  (b) the UK in (i) 2008 and (ii) 2009.

Stephen Timms: Information on income tax liabilities in Scotland and the UK can be found in table 3.11 Income and tax by gender, region and country on the HM Revenue and Customs website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_distribution/menu.htm
	The information is based on the Survey of Personal Incomes, of which 2006-07 is the latest available. Information for 2008-09 and 2009-10 will be published during 2011 and 2012 respectively.

Income Tax: Tax Allowances

Gisela Stuart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the likely cost to the public purse of increasing the personal allowance by £2,000, limited to the basic rate of income tax, in respect of  (a) all married couples and couples in civil partnerships,  (b) all married couples and couples in civil partnerships with children under the age of (i) three and (ii) six and (c) all those aged 65 years and over in each fiscal year from 2010-11 to 2013-14.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 28 January 2010
	Due to the complex nature of these questions the following estimates should be treated with caution. These estimates exclude any behavioural response to the change, which could be significant given the magnitude of the change. This has the additional implication of limiting reliable modelling of costs to 2010-11.
	The estimated costs of increasing the personal allowance by £2,000 per person, limited to the basic rate of income tax, are:
	(a) £5.9 billion for all married couples and civil partnerships;
	(b) (i) £0.6 billion for all married couples and civil partnerships with children under the age of three;
	(ii) £1.0 billion for all married couples and civil partnerships with children under the age of six.
	These estimates have been calculated using HM Treasury's tax and benefit micro-simulation model using Family Resources Survey 2007-08 data.
	The estimates of increasing the personal allowance for those aged 65 and over can be approximated from table 1.6 Direct effects of illustrative tax changes available at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/tax_expenditures/table1-6.pdf

Landfill Tax

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how much is expected to be raised through landfill tax in 2010-11;
	(2)  whether he plans to review the criteria under which projects can apply for funding under the landfill tax credit scheme;
	(3)  how many applications from each constituency have been  (a) received and  (b) granted for funding under the landfill tax credit scheme in each year since 1996; and how much funding has been provided to successful applicants in each constituency in each of those years.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Estimates of landfill tax revenues are set out in chapter A, table A1, of the 2009 Budget publication Building Britain's Future.
	There are no plans for a specific review of the objects of the landfill communities fund (known as the landfill tax credit scheme up to 2006). However, the fund (including its qualifying objects) is kept under regular review as part of the Budget process.
	Neither HM Revenue and Customs, nor the fund regulator, ENTRUST, hold information on applications or funding broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Loans

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the  (a) number of self-certification loans made in each year since 2004 and  (b) total stock of self-certification loans which is outstanding.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Treasury does not hold data on mortgage product sales by type. However, the FSA's 'Mortgage Market Review' includes some information on the proportion of regulated mortgage sales in 2007 that did not involve income verification. This is available in Exhibit 2.7 of the publication, which is available at the following link:
	http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pubs/discussion/dp09_03.pdf

Members: Correspondence

John Barrett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the MP's Parliamentary Business Unit of the Tax Credit Office expects to answer the hon. Member for Edinburgh West's faxed correspondence of 17 December 2009 on his constituent Mrs L A McKinnon.

Stephen Timms: HM Revenue and Customs wrote to the hon. Member about his constituent on 16 February 2010 and sincerely apologise for the delay in doing so.

Money Laundering

Tony Baldry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reports he has received of allegations that North Korea is using Luxembourg as a channel for money laundering; and if he will request the government of Luxembourg to investigate the allegations.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Government are not able to comment on matters of intelligence. However the Government play a leading role in international efforts against money laundering, including the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the EU Committee for the Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorist Finance.
	It should also be noted that in 2009 the UK signed up to further sanctions against North Korea under UN Resolution 1874, placing restrictions on financial institutions providing services to North Korea and requiring enhanced vigilance by member states. While aimed at reducing the threat from the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, such measures also serve to strengthen international anti-money laundering controls.

Mortgages

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of non-deposit taking mortgage lenders in each year since 2004.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Bank of England collects data on the volume of mortgage lending by different types of lenders, including specialist lenders. These are published in 'Monetary and Financial Statistics (Bankstats)'. Figures from the latest publication, which covers the period December 2007 to December 2009, are available at
	http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/statistics/ms/2010/jan/taba5.3.xls
	The full set of figures is accessible through the Bank's statistical database, at
	http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/mfsd/iadb/BankStats.asp

National Insurance Contributions: Registration

Brian Binley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many self-employed people were late in registering their national insurance contributions with HM Revenue and Customs in the last two years.

Stephen Timms: Individuals starting self-employment have a legal obligation to notify HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) of their liability to pay Class 2 National Insurance Contributions (NICs).
	23,258 and 23,991 self-employed individuals were late in notifying HMRC of their liability to pay Class 2 NICs during 2008 and 2009 respectively. Late is defined as more than three months from the date self-employment commenced.

PAYE

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether an individual's PAYE case is automatically cleared when HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) does not receive back an employment history enquiry; and how many PAYE cases were cleared after HMRC received back an employment history enquiry from individuals in  (a) 2006,  (b) 2007,  (c) 2008 and  (d) 2009.

Stephen Timms: Pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) aims to collect the right amount of tax each year through the PAYE tax code, which is based on the latest information available to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
	Where an individual's employment history appears incomplete HMRC will ask the customer for their employment history either during or at the end of the tax year. If the individual does not respond then the tax code will continue to be based on the most current information available and the case cleared at the end of the tax year.
	Customers are encouraged to use the information provided on HM Revenue and Customs' (HMRC) website at:
	www.hmrc.gov.uk/income/tax-codes.htm
	to help them understand their PAYE tax code. If customers have concerns or believe they are being wrongly taxed, they should contact their tax office, which will be able to make any appropriate adjustments irrespective of whether the case has been cleared.
	Information on how to find your tax office is available at:
	http://search2.hmrc.gov.uk/kbroker/hmrc/locator/locator.jsp?type=l
	The information requested is not available, as HM Revenue and Customs' systems do not capture details of the number of PAYE cases cleared following receipt of a completed employment history inquiry form.

Pension Credit: Northern Ireland

William McCrea: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many pensioners resident in Northern Ireland have been contacted as part of his Department's pension credit Tax Back campaign.

Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested is not available. I can confirm however, that for the United Kingdom as a whole, around 3.4 million letters were issued.

Public Sector: Contracts

Caroline Flint: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a Minister or official in his Department has responsibility for promoting Article 19 of the European Union Procurement Directive in respect of the awarding of public sector contracts to work places in which more than 50 per cent. of employees are disabled.

Ian Pearson: The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) has responsibility for public procurement law and policy in the UK.
	Government are fully committed to ensuring that people with disabilities are given the opportunity to enter the labour market, as well as ensuring that there is a level playing field for all companies, including supported businesses, seeking to do business with the public sector.
	Article 19 of the EU procurement directive has a role to play in facilitating public sector contracting opportunities for supported businesses. Last year, the OGC published practical guidance for public procurers on the provision contained within Article 19, including how to reserve contracts for supported factories and businesses while still ensuring that value for money is achieved.
	Buying Solutions, OGC's executive agency and national procurement partner for UK public services, has made use of the Article 19 provision to set up a pan Government collaborative framework agreement with supported businesses.
	Central Departments, including HM Treasury, each have supported businesses champions at official level. Their role will include raising awareness of the Article 19 provision within their Departments.
	OGC is working with DWP and key stakeholders to raise awareness of the Article 19 provision and to encourage Departments to use it where appropriate.

Resource Accounting and Budgeting

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes have been made to his Department's guidance on resource account budgeting since 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The introduction of Stage 2 of Resource Accounting and Budgeting in 2003 moved non-cash items from AME (Annual Managed Expenditure) to DEL (Departmental Expenditure Limits).
	The 2006-07 Consolidated Budgeting Guidance formalised existing restrictions on switching between non-cash and near-cash items by introducing a near-cash control total.
	In 2006-07, capital grants were also moved from resource DEL to capital DEL, eliminating the need to ring fence them within resource DEL.
	The 2009-10 Consolidate Budgeting Guidance made a number of smaller changes to align the budgeting system with International Financial Reporting Standards which have been adopted for departmental resource accounting purposes.
	Copies of past editions of the budgeting guidance are available in the Library, and the present edition is available on the Treasury website.

Revenue and Customs

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the costs, including redundancy payments, and the benefits, including increased tax yield and transaction savings, have been of HM Revenue and Customs' transformation programme in each year from 2006-07; and what the net change in the number of staff employed has been in each year.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 28 January 2010
	HM Revenue and Customs' (HMRC) major transformation initiatives are delivered through the Departmental Transformation Programme (DTP), established in October 2006. The transformation programme has led to improved customer service, such as reduced administrative burden, faster responses to customer queries and an expansion in our online services to individuals and businesses.
	The information requested is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Transformation costs( 1)  Additional tax yield  Transaction savings( 2) 
			 2006-07 429.4 660.0 n/a 
			 2007-08 421.7 714.8 14.2 
			 2008-09 647.0 672.3 18.4 
			 2009-10(3) 428.1 2,100.1 43.6 
			 Total 1,926.2 4,147.2 76.2 
			 (1 )Transformation costs include the cost of voluntary staff releases made as part of the Workforce Change programme, when it was part of the Departmental Transformation Programme in 2008-09. (2 )Transaction savings are defined as non-paybill savings in operational costs achieved through efficiencies, or improvements to our processes. (3 )2009-10 figures are forecast for the year, rather than actuals to date. 
		
	
	Transformation is expected to have long-term benefit, resulting in tax yield benefits continuing to accrue in future years.
	The information requested is provided in the following table:
	
		
			   Headcount  Head count year-on-year change  Head count change to date  Full-time equivalent (FTE)  FTE year-on-year change  FTE change to date 
			 1 April 2006 97,332 n/a n/a 89,702 n/a n/a 
			 1 April 2007 96,511 -821 -821 88,936 -766 -766 
			 1 April 2008 90,961 -5,550 -6,371 83,828 -5,108 -5,874 
			 1 April 2009 88,875 -2,086 -8,457 81,160 -2,668 -8,542 
			 1 January 2010(1) 79,620 -9,255 -17,712 72,147 -9,013 -17,555 
			 (1 )Figures for 2009-10 include the transfer of 4,803 staff (4,628 FTE) from HMRC to the UK Border Agency.  Note:  These figures relate to headcount and FTE numbers on the 1 April each year, except the current year where the figures are based on figures at 1 January 2010.

Revenue and Customs

Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the loss to the Exchequer arising from official error on the part of HM Revenue and Customs staff in each of the last five years.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The information requested is available only at disproportionate cost, as the figures for all HMRC Official Error cases are not collated centrally.
	Total revenue losses for HMRC are shown on p100 (table 8.2 ) of HMRC's Trust Statement, available at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/about/reports.htm
	It is not possible to disaggregate figures of Official Error cases from the totals shown.

Revenue and Customs: Manpower

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the HM Revenue and Customs employee headcount was for its  (a) PSN and  (b) information management services department in (i) 2006, (ii) 2007, (iii) 2008 and (iv) 2009.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Employee headcount 
			   HM RC directorate 
			   IMS (Information Management Services)  PSN (PAYE, SA and NIC) 
			 April 2009 1,428 372 
			 April 2008 1,499 350 
			 April 2007 1,743 388 
			 April 2006 1,997 334

Sick Pay

Hywel Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the amount of statutory sick pay not paid by companies in each of the last five years.

Stephen Timms: No such estimate has been made.

Sick Pay

Hywel Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which 50 companies owe the most in statutory sick pay contributions; and how much each such company owes in such contributions.

Stephen Timms: Employers are responsible for establishing entitlement and making payment of any Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) due to their employees.
	The information requested is not available, as there is no obligation on employers or employees to report to HM Revenue and Customs cases where an employer owes SSP to an employee.

Stamp Duty Land Tax

Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the tax gap in stamp duty land tax in each of the last five years.

Stephen Timms: In March 2008 HMRC published details of analysis from 2005 that attempted to derive broad-brush estimates of the direct tax gap at the start of the decade. This publication contained a net tax gap estimate for stamp duty land tax of £0.5 billion, within a range of £0.2 billion to £1 billion and can be found at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/research/direct-tax-gaps.pdf
	and
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/research/measuring-tax-gap.pdf
	The most up-to-date information is found in Measuring Tax Gaps 2009, published at PBR 2009, which contains an illustrative indicator of the tax gap for all stamp duties, available at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/measuring-tax-gaps.pdf

Tax Allowances: North West

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of people aged 75 years and over resident in each local authority area in the North West with an annual income below  (a) £10,000,  (b) the age-related personal allowance of £9,640 and  (c) the basic level of personal allowance of £6,475 in 2009-10;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of people aged between 65 and 74 years old resident in each local authority area in the North West with an annual income below  (a) £10,000,  (b) the age-related personal allowance of £9,640 and  (c) the basic level of personal allowance of £6,490 in 2009-10.

Stephen Timms: The requested information is not readily available due to small sample sizes at local authority area and non representative data for individuals with income below the personal allowance.
	However, information on taxpayers' income and income tax by unitary authority can be found in table 3.14 'Income and tax by borough and district or unitary authority' on HM Revenue and Customs' website, available at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_distribution/menu-by-year.htm#314
	Estimates are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes, of which 2006-07 is currently the latest available.
	Any inference from the information in tables 3.14 should take into account the confidence intervals in table 3.14a 'income and tax by borough and district or unitary authority, Confidence Intervals'.

Taxation

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what forms of individual income are subject to withholding tax but are not part of the Pay As You Earn system; and how the amount to be withheld is calculated on those forms of income.

Stephen Timms: The Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system applies to income from employment and pensions. Other individual income, outside PAYE, and subject to withholding tax is as follows.
	Investment income from banks and building societies has basic rate tax deducted at source by the payer. Individuals who are not liable to tax can arrange to receive their income paid gross or claim a repayment, and those who should only be paying at the 10 per cent. savings rate can claim a repayment.
	Interest distributions paid by authorised investment funds and investment trust companies are also subject to deduction of basic rate tax at source. Individuals with no liability or reduced liability can claim a repayment.
	Other interest, annual payments and patent royalties payable to individuals are subject to deduction of basic rate tax at source. This is treated as if it were tax paid by the recipient, who then only has a tax liability on the gross amount of the payment if they are higher rate taxpayers.
	Dividends are not subject to deduction of basic rate tax at source. However, individuals who receive dividends from UK and most non-UK companies are entitled to a non-payable tax credit designed to compensate for tax paid on corporate profits at the company level, and this is used to satisfy the tax liability of the recipient if they are liable to basic rate tax only. The recipient will then only have an additional liability if liable to higher rate tax on the amount of the dividend plus tax credit. Dividend distributions paid by authorised investment funds are treated in the same way.
	Gains from certain life insurance policies are treated as income. Although there is no direct system of tax withholding, insurers are charged corporation tax on returns ultimately attributable to their policyholders. To reflect this, individuals with policies from UK life insurers will be treated as though they have paid basic rate tax on gains they realise from these policies.
	Payments under purchase life annuities are subject to deduction of basic rate tax at source on the part of each payment that represents income rather than a return of the original capital used to acquire the annuity. Basic rate tax is deducted from this income by the insurer making the annuity payments and is treated as tax paid by the annuitant.
	Income from construction contracts of any individual subcontractor registered for payment under deduction in the Construction Industry Scheme will be subject to a deduction of 20 per cent. on the amount which does not represent the direct cost of materials.
	The non resident Landlords Scheme requires UK letting agents to deduct basic rate tax from any rent they collect for non resident landlords from UK property. If non resident landlords do not have UK letting agents acting for them, and the rent is more than £100 a week, their tenants must deduct the tax. When working out the amount to tax the letting agent/tenant can take off deductible expenses.
	Property income distributions paid by UK REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) or by Property Authorised Investment Funds (PAIFs) are also subject to deduction of tax at the basic rate.
	The taxation of income from trusts, other than bare trusts, depends upon whether the income is discretionary or an immediate entitlement. Discretionary payments from trusts which are not settlor-interested carry a credit at the trust rate. Where there is an income entitlement the trustees account for tax on that income and the beneficiaries receive credit for any tax payable by the trustees, along with any tax deducted at source and tax credits. The rate depends upon the nature of the income, 10 per cent. on dividend type income and basic rate on other income.
	The treatment of income from estates is similar.
	Where settlors are taxable on income arising to a trust, the trustees account for tax on that income as recipients. The settlor receives credit for any tax payable by the trustees along with tax deducted at source and any tax credits, for example attaching to dividends. The rate of tax chargeable on the trustees depends firstly on the nature of the trust and then on the nature of the income.

Taxation: Companies

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how much HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) charged in fines to  (a) partnerships and  (b) companies who (i) were fined for not filing their tax returns with HMRC by 31 January 2009 and (ii) were registered as a partnership for the purpose of receiving their unique taxpayer reference from 1 October 2008;
	(2)  how much HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) charged in fines to  (a) partnerships and  (b) companies who were fined for not filing their tax returns with HMRC by 31 January 2010 and were registered as a partnership for the purpose of receiving their unique taxpayer reference from 1 October 2009.

Stephen Timms: Any partnership registering after 1 October 2008 and 1 October 2009 would not be required to submit a partnership tax return until 31 January 2010 or 31 January 2011 respectively. Penalties for late 2008-09 returns will start to be issued towards the end of February 2010.

Taxation: Fraud

Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer arising from organised fraud in relation to  (a) income tax,  (b) value added tax,  (c) corporation tax,  (d) national insurance,  (e) tax credits and  (f) child benefit in each of the last five years.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: In Protecting Tax Revenues 2009, published at 2009 pre-Budget report, HMRC estimated that criminal attacks accounted for 12.5 per cent. of the total net tax gap of £40 billion in 2007-08:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/pbr2009/protect-tax-revenue-5450.pdf
	Reliable estimates for losses arising from organised fraud in income tax, corporation tax national insurance and child benefit are not available.
	Estimates for value added tax losses arising from organised fraud (Missing Trader Intra-Community fraud) for the years 2005-06 to 2008-09 are available in Measuring Tax Gaps 2009:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/measuring-tax-gaps.pdf
	HM Revenue and Customs 2008-09 Accounts reported that for tax credits £31.9 million was written off due to organised fraud in 2008-09:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/about/hmrc-accs-0809.pdf

Taxation: Married People

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the  (a) number and  (b) proportion of children living in poverty who would benefit from measures to benefit married couples through the tax system.

Stephen Timms: The number and proportion of children living in poverty who would benefit depends on the specific measure considered to benefit married couples through the tax system; and whether all married couples would benefit or just those with children below a certain age. When considering reforms of this type, it is important to take into account that children in lone-parent families face a higher chance of living in relative poverty than children in couple families. The Households Below Average Income 1994/95-2007/08 publication shows that 36 per cent. of children living in lone-parent families fall below the 60 per cent. median income threshold (before housing costs), against 18 per cent. of children in couple families.

Taxation: Medical Equipment

Mark Oaten: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 14 December 2009,  Official Report, columns 856-57W, on taxation: health professions, if he will consider the merits of bringing forward proposals to reduce to zero the rate of value added tax on medical appliances supplied by appliance contractors.

Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 14 January 2010,  Official Report, column 1137W.

Taxation: Self Assessment

Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the tax gap for individuals in income tax self assessment in  (a) 2005-06,  (b) 2006-07 and  (c) 2007-08.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The latest estimate of the tax gap for individuals in self assessment was published at the 2009 pre-Budget report in Measuring Tax Gaps 2009, available at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/measuring-tax-gaps.htm

Valuation

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Valuation Office Agency has spent on the Automated Valuation Model (AVM) for domestic dwellings to date; what the purpose of the AVM for domestic dwellings is; and which databases use  (a) AVM technology and  (b) data analysed by the AVM system.

Ian Pearson: From 2003 to 31 January 2010, total expenditure by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) on Automated Valuation Model (AVM) technology, to support a range of its activities associated with domestic property valuation, has amounted to approximately £14 million.
	The VOA originally developed AVM technology to support work on the 2007 Council Tax Revaluation in England, which was postponed in 2005, however the technology has since been used to develop a council tax banding support tool to assist with maintenance of current council tax valuation lists.
	AVM technology makes use of data drawn from the VOA's digitised database of property records. The database itself does not use AVM technology.
	No analysed data are passed from the AVM systems to the VOA's digitised database of property records.

Valuation Office: Databases

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date the Valuation Office Agency's Geographical Information System is expected to go live in each of the agency's area offices.

Ian Pearson: The roll-out of the Geographical Information System application to each of the agency's offices is planned to take place over a five-week period commencing in July 2010.

VAT: Charities

Janet Anderson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will lift the requirement for registered charities to pay value added tax on digital audio equipment.

Stephen Timms: A zero rate of VAT applies to equipment purchased by charities which they make available to disabled people for their domestic or personal use, provided the equipment is designed solely for use by a disabled person. This covers digital audio equipment which is so designed, but does not cover any equipment which disabled people may find useful, but which is also suitable for more general use.
	The application of VAT throughout the EU is governed by agreements between the UK and its EU partners. Under these agreements, we are allowed to keep our existing zero rates, but may not extend their scope or introduce new ones.

Welfare Tax Credits

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what proportion of couples with children receiving  (a) child tax credit only and  (b) both working tax credit and child tax credit have both adults in work and do not receive the 30 hour element of working tax credit.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is not available. Households eligible for child tax credit, but not working tax credit, are not eligible for the 30-hour element of working tax credit.
	Working tax credit is designed to remove barriers to work and to top up the earnings of working people on low to moderate incomes. People with a child or a disability can claim it from age 16, provided they work at least 16 hours a week. The hours worked by couples with children can be combined; therefore if both adults in a couple work at least 16 hours a week they will be eligible for the 30 hour element of working tax credit.
	In most cases if an individual in the couple works less than 16 hours, HM Revenue and Customs will not hold the necessary information to determine whether the individual is working at all. As such, the Department cannot produce the analysis requested.

Welfare Tax Credits

Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent on each element of  (a) working tax credit and  (b) child tax credit in each (i) county and (ii) region in each of the last four years.

Stephen Timms: Estimates of the average number of recipient families and their entitlements to tax credits, by county, local authority and parliamentary constituency, for 2004-05 to 2007-08, are available in the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) publications Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics Finalised Annual Awards. Geographical Analyses, available at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm
	The same information for 2008-09 is not yet available as awards have not yet been finalised. However, estimates of the number of recipient families with tax credits, based on provisional awards, as at 1 December 2009, are available in the HMRC snapshot publication Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics. Geographical analyses. December 2009, available at the same internet address.
	HMRC do not produce these statistics separately for child tax credit and working tax credit.

Welfare Tax Credits: Newport

Jessica Morden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many households in Newport East constituency are in receipt of tax credits.

Stephen Timms: The latest information on the number of households benefiting from tax credits, by each parliamentary constituency, is available in HM Revenue and Customs snapshot publication Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics. Geographical Analyses. December 2009, available at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-dec09.pdf

Welfare Tax Credits: Rotherham

Denis MacShane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was paid in working tax credits to eligible households in Rotherham in the latest year for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: Estimates of the average number of recipient families and their entitlements to tax credits, by local authority and parliamentary constituency, for 2007-08, are available in the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) publications 'Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics Finalised Annual Awards. Geographical Analyses', available at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm
	The same information for 2008-09 is not yet available as awards have not yet been finalised. However, estimates of the number of recipient families with tax credits, based on provisional awards, as at 1 December 2009, are available in the HMRC snapshot publication 'Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics. Geographical analyses. December 2009', available at the same internet address.
	HMRC do not produce these statistics separately for child tax credit and working tax credit.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan and Pakistan: Overseas Aid

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which non-governmental organisations are receiving funding from his Department to conduct aid work in  (a) Afghanistan and  (b) Pakistan; and how much each is receiving in 2009-10.

Douglas Alexander: Details of the Department for International Development's (DFID) bilateral aid delivered by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in recipient countries are published annually in Statistics on International Development, which is available in the House Library or online at:
	www.dfid.gov.uk
	Final data for 2009-10 is not yet available and will be published in the 2010 edition of Statistics on International Development.
	Following is a list of some of the NGOs in Afghanistan and Pakistan that DFID has funded so far in 2009-10. For security reasons it is not possible to name all individual NGOs receiving direct funding from DFID in Afghanistan.
	 Afghanistan
	HALO Trust
	Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU)
	The British and Irish Agencies Afghanistan Group (BAAG)
	Agency Co-ordinating Body for Afghanistan Relief (ACBAR)
	Mercy Corps
	Peace Dividend Trust
	War Child
	BBC World Service Trust
	Womankind
	Relief International
	Tiri
	Actionaid UK
	 Pakistan
	ACTED
	Concern World Wide
	Catholic Relief Services
	Handicap International
	International Committee of the Red Cross
	International Medical Corps
	International Relief Committee
	Mercy Corps
	Merlin
	Muslim Aid
	Oxfam GB
	Relief International
	Save the Children UK
	Sarhad Rural Support Programme
	Contact International
	Rabta Consortium
	Nai Zindagi
	Family Health International
	Rural Support Programme Network
	Mountain Glacier Protection Organisation

Departmental Energy

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the estimated  (a) amount and  (b) cost was of energy used in his Department in each year since 1997; what proportion of the energy used was generated from renewable sources in each of those years; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Foster: The amount and cost of energy use of the Department for International Development's UK estate, for the last five years, (without any allowance for organisational changes or weather correction) are provided in the table.
	
		
			   Amount (KWH)  Cost (£)  Percentage from renewable sources 
			  2004-05
			 Electricity 6,448,093 320,811 95 
			 Gas 4,734,311 67,911 n/a 
			 
			  2005-06
			 Electricity 7,055,585 454,478 95 
			 Gas 4,851,902 109,635 n/a 
			 
			  2006-07
			 Electricity 6,991,134 620,304 100 
			 Gas 4,309,038 131,460 n/a 
			 
			  2007-08
			 Electricity 6,642,910 573,520 100 
			 Gas 4,383,404 103,294 n/a 
			 
			  2008-09
			 Electricity 6,089,299 644,079 100 
			 Gas 4,030,927 121,423 n/a 
		
	
	Information on environmental performance is supplied to the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) and the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC), in accordance with the Government targets set for Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate (SOGE). Detailed information is available on the respective OGC and SDC websites. As a result of various measures taken by the Department for International Development (DFID), the carbon emissions after allowing for weather correction have reduced by 15 per cent. over the last two years. All energy is purchased via central Government framework contracts arranged by the Office of Government Commerce, and the variation in expenditure is partly attributable to the changes in unit costs under these contracts.

Iraq Committee of Inquiry

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many  (a) documents and  (b) other items of information in electronic format provided by his Department to the Iraq Inquiry that Inquiry has sought to publish under the procedure set out in the protocol on documents and other written and electronic information; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: I refer the hon. Lady to the answer given to her by Tessa Jowell on 9 February 2010,  Official Report, column 849W.

Overseas Aid

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of the funding provided by his Department to UNITAID was allocated to tuberculosis drugs, vaccine and diagnostics in the latest period for which figures are available.

Michael Foster: Donor contributions to UNITAID are not earmarked for specific purposes. At the end of 2009, the cumulative total of funding provided to UNITAID by all donors was $1,017,801,290. Of this amount grants supporting TB treatments and diagnostics were just over 11 per cent. at $113,379,034.

Overseas Aid: Climate Change

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of the £1.5 billion fast start finance for climate change adaptation programmes announced by the Prime Minister at the UN Climate Change Conference in December 2009 was additional to existing aid allocations.

Gareth Thomas: All fast start finance will contribute towards the existing Government Official Development Assistance (ODA) target of 0.7 per cent. of Gross National Income (GNI). In order to reach this target the UK's aid programme is growing and fast start will be financed from part of this growth. All of the £1.5 billion fast start finance is additional to spending on climate change in 2009-10.

Overseas Aid: Health Services

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to implement the World Health Assembly's resolution 62.15 on prevention and control of multidrug resistant tuberculosis and extensively drug resistant tuberculosis.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) is working to implement resolution 62.15 and the earlier resolution 60.19 through our support to the delivery of the Global Plan to Stop TB 2006-15. We recognise that drug resistant strains of TB pose serious threats to achieving the goals of the Global Plan and are working with our partners to ensure that prompt quality diagnosis and effective treatment is available to those who need it.
	This includes a 20-year commitment to UNITAID of up to €60 million per year by 2010. UNITAID aims to triple access to rapid testing for multi-drug resistant TB and to reduce the price of multi-drug resistant TB medicines by 25 per cent. by 2010. DFID funds research into new TB drugs and diagnostics, including through the Global Alliance for TB Drugs and the Tropical Disease Research special programme at the World Health Organisation (WHO). In 2006 DFID also provided an additional £1.6 million to the Stop TB Partnership to address extensively drug resistant TB in South Africa.

Overseas Aid: Health Services

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to promote the development and production of anti-tuberculosis drugs appropriate for children in developing countries.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) is committed to supporting the delivery of the Global Plan to Stop TB 2006-15, which specifically highlights children with tuberculosis.
	As part of our support we have made a 20-year commitment to UNITAID, the international drugs purchasing facility, of up to €60 million per year by 2010. One of UNITAID's core areas of work is to support the development of, and access to, child-friendly TB medicine.

Overseas Aid: Health Services

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to implement commitments made by EU member states in the 2007 Berlin Declaration on Tuberculosis.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) is working towards implementing commitments in the 2007 Berlin Declaration on TB through our support to the delivery of the Global Plan to Stop TB 2006-15. We do this through country programmes, multilateral organisations, global partnerships, research and through using our political voice in the G8 and other forums.

Palestinians: Overseas Aid

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether an assessment has been made of the damage to projects in Gaza which have been  (a) built and  (b) financed by Government money since the Oslo Peace Accords.

Michael Foster: We have not made any specific assessments of the damage caused to projects in Gaza either built or financed with UK Government funding since the Oslo Peace Accords.

Palestinians: Overseas Aid

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development to what  (a) infrastructure,  (b) institutions and  (c) civic sites that have been built in Gaza since the Oslo Peace Accords the Government has contributed funding.

Michael Foster: Since the Oslo Peace Accords in 1993, the Department for International Development (DFID) has directly funded a number of small infrastructure and civic site projects in Gaza including repairs to the water and sanitation network, rehabilitation of damaged schools, creation of safe play areas for children, and repairs to approximately 70 kilometres of road. More information on the projects we currently fund is available on the DFID website.
	DFID also provides core funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) which provide education, health care and housing to Palestinian refugees across the region. UNRWA spends approximately one third of its funding in Gaza, which includes infrastructure and civic sites such as health clinics and schools.

Western Sahara: Overseas Aid

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the oral answer from the Prime Minister of 13 January 2010,  Official R eport, column 688, on Western Sahara, when the level of aid to the Western Sahara will be increased.

Douglas Alexander: As set out by the Prime Minister on 13 January, the UK is doubling its aid to areas where there is a growth of ethnic violence. Over the last five years, the Department for International Development (DFID) has doubled aid to fragile and conflict-affected countries to £1.2 billion a year. The 2009 Development White Paper commits DFID to maintaining this momentum by allocating at least 50 per cent. of new bilateral country aid to fragile and conflict-affected countries.
	DFID supports Western Sahara through its share of the budget if the European Community Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO). ECHO has provided €133 million in humanitarian aid to Western Sahara since it was established.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

BAE Systems: Fines

Dai Davies: To ask the Solicitor-General by what date BAE Systems will be required to pay the fine imposed on it in relation to its activities in Tanzania; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: The financial aspects of the plea agreement reached between the SFO and BAE in relation to Tanzania are all subject to the approval of the Crown Court, which will determine the appropriate sentence including the period within which any financial penalties must be paid. Criminal proceedings will be commenced in due course.

BAE Systems: USA

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Solicitor-General what discussions the Attorney-General has had with the US Department of Justice on BAE Systems in the last 12 months.

Vera Baird: The Attorney-General has had no such discussions.

Departmental Energy

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Solicitor-General what the estimated  (a) amount and  (b) cost was of energy used in the Law Officers' Departments in each year since 1997; what proportion of the energy used was generated from renewable sources in each of those years; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: The Law Officers' Departments have been reporting energy consumption and cost data since 2000-01 as part of the Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate (SOGE) reporting process. The Law Officer's Departments are well above the existing Government targets in using renewable energy. Data prior to 2000-01 are not available and to obtain this information in order to inform a meaningful estimate would incur disproportionate cost.
	The data reported relate solely to the Law Officers' Departments controlled estate and exclude properties where energy costs are included as part of a general service charge levied by landlords or the major Government occupier of the property. Data to identify energy costs and inform a meaningful estimate of energy usage in these properties are not available and to obtain them would incur disproportionate cost.
	The data reported by the Law Officers' Departments for the years since 2000-01 are detailed in the following table. Cost figures for 2007-08 and 2008-09 are not available and are estimated based on 2006-07 cost.
	
		
			   Cost (£ million)  kW/Hrs (million)  Percentage renewable 
			 1997-98 n/a n/a n/a 
			 1998-99 n/a n/a n/a 
			 1999-2000 n/a n/a n/a 
			 2000-01 1.18 30.1 n/a 
			 2001-02 1.00 24.4 n/a 
			 2002-03 1.01 26.4 24 
			 2003-04 1.06 32.2 33 
			 2004-05 1.35 34.2 30 
			 2005-06 1.61 31.3 44 
			 2006-07 1.89 31.0 46 
			 2007-08 1.76 28.9 42 
			 2008-09 1.99 32.6 35

Iraq Committee of Inquiry

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Solicitor-General how many  (a) documents and  (b) other items of information in electronic format provided by the Law Officers' Department's to the Iraq Inquiry that Inquiry has sought to publish under the procedure set out in the protocol on documents and other written and electronic information; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: I refer the hon. Lady to the answer given to her by the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Tessa Jowell) on 9 February 2010,  Official Report, column 894W.

Special Advocates

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Solicitor-General whether special advocates have been employed in cases involving  (a) naturalisation judicial reviews,  (b) Parole Board hearings,  (c) pre-charge detention hearings,  (d) production order hearings,  (e) planning inquiries,  (f) family proceedings and  (g) the Mental Health Review Tribunal since their introduction.

Vera Baird: The answer to the question the hon. Member for Hendon has posed may most helpfully be put in the form of a table, which appears as follows. The table relates to the UK and has been prepared with the assistance of the Office of the Solicitor to the Advocate-General for Scotland.
	
		
			Yes  No 
			  (a) Naturalisation-Judicial Reviews - x 
			  (b) Parole Board Hearings x - 
			  (c) Pre-Charge Detention Hearings - x 
			  (d) Production Order Hearings - x 
			  (e) Planning Inquiries - x 
			  (f) Family Proceedings x - 
			  (g) Mental Health Review Tribunal - x

JUSTICE

Correctional Services Board: Finance

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the  (a) allocated budget for and  (b) expenditure on fees for members of the Correctional Services Accreditation Panel was in 2008-09; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: The allocated budget for the Correctional Services Accreditation Panel (CSAP) in 2008-09 was £155,000. Expenditure on fees for panel members during that period was £121,363.63. A breakdown of budget costs is included in the Correctional Services Accreditation Panel Annual Report for 2008-09, which was published on the Ministry of Justice website on 1 February 2010.

Custodial Treatment: Young Offenders

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many custodial sentences have been imposed on young offenders in each youth offending team area in each of the last six months.

Claire Ward: The available information is shown in the following table. Data for the last six months is not available-data for each month of 2008 is supplied in lieu. Data for 2009 will be available when Sentencing Statistics 2009 is published in the autumn.
	Data by region held on the courts proceedings database does not match exactly to Youth Offending Team areas which are based on local authority areas.
	The criminal justice areas that make up each region are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Young offenders( 1)  sentenced to custody by region( 2) 
			   Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec 
			 East Midlands 52 39 43 36 42 34 29 30 37 46 43 24 
			 East of England 33 38 25 38 35 39 43 28 35 34 61 38 
			 London 84 109 72 96 105 94 107 95 92 89 62 73 
			 North East 22 24 26 21 23 12 22 24 12 18 14 12 
			 North West 85 86 90 100 77 65 88 66 87 85 61 57 
			 South East 46 32 39 44 49 38 44 46 48 39 35 50 
			 South West 16 14 17 20 22 22 15 26 20 18 23 25 
			 Wales 27 23 25 27 31 33 21 20 21 29 17 20 
			 West Midlands 58 47 47 65 59 63 27 47 49 61 43 45 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 57 56 58 87 50 54 63 45 58 58 56 46 
			 Total 480 468 442 534 493 454 459 427 459 477 415 390 
			 (1) Young offenders are those aged under 18 at the point of sentence.  (2) Data by region held on the courts proceedings database does not match exactly to Youth Offending Team areas. The following Criminal Justice Areas are contained within each region:   East Midlands Derbyshire  Leicestershire  Lincolnshire  Northamptonshire  NottinghamshireEast of England Bedfordshire  Cambridgeshire  Essex  Hertfordshire  Norfolk  Suffolk   London London   North East  Cleveland  Durham  Northumbria   North West  Cheshire  Cumbria  Greater Manchester  Lancashire  Merseyside   South East  Hampshire  Kent  Surrey  Sussex  Thames Valley   South West Avon and Somerset  Devon and Cornwall  Dorset  Gloucestershire  Wiltshire   Wales Dyfed-Powys  Gwent  North Wales  South Wales   West Midlands Staffordshire  Warwickshire  West Mercia  West MidlandsYorkshire and Humberside Humberside  North Yorkshire  South Yorkshire  West Yorkshire   Note:  These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.  Source:  Justice Statistics-Analytical Services, Ministry of Justice Ref: PQ(JSAS)317526 17/02/2010.

Departmental Electronic Equipment

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many plasma screen televisions his Department has purchased since 2001; and what the cost has been of purchasing and installing such screens in each such year.

Michael Wills: Flat screen televisions may be plasma or LCD. It is not possible to determine which type of flat screen has been purchased in all cases, except at the disproportionate cost of physically examining all of the TVs or retrieving all invoices which are filed locally around the business.
	Similarly it is not possible to identify the purpose of these purchases in all cases, except at disproportionate cost. However, no flat screen TVs have been purchased for prisoners' cells.
	 Expenditure betwee n October 2008 to November 2009
	Since October 2008, the Ministry of Justice has had one main supplier for the provision of flat screen televisions. From the start of this contract up to November 2009, £139,676 was spent on flat screen televisions. This figure excludes the costs of installation which is undertaken by local estates teams across the Ministry. Installation costs cannot be separately quantified but represent a tiny element of the work of estates teams. Procurement records indicate that flat screen television expenditure included 10 plasma screen televisions at a cost of £6,180.
	It is possible, though unlikely, that some further expenditure may have been incurred outside of the contract using the Government Procurement Card (GPC). To investigate whether any flat screen televisions, DVD players or stereo equipment had been purchased with the GPC card would incur disproportionate cost.
	 Expenditure prior to October 2008
	Prior to October 2008, there was one main supplier for the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) part of the business. Expenditure under this contract was £26,454 in 2007-08, with no expenditure recorded prior to that date. It is not known whether these televisions were plasmas or LCDs.
	The Tribunals Service also had a single contract for the supply of flat screen TVs. Expenditure under this contract was a fixed annual contractual sum of £10,000 per annum, starting from 2006-07. It is not known whether these televisions were plasmas or LCDs.
	The wider Ministry operated numerous local contracts and it is not possible to determine total expenditure on flat screen televisions prior to October 2008 without incurring the disproportionate cost of examining individual transactions incurred under local contracts. However, between March 2006 and March 2008, 397 flat screen television screens were purchased at a total cost of £516,478 by HM Courts Service, mainly in connection with the Videolinks Project, which allows vulnerable witnesses to take part in trials without actually being present. Videolinks also connects to a number of prisons, which saves money by allowing certain meetings and proceedings to occur which would otherwise require prisoner transport and accommodation.

Departmental Energy

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the estimated  (a) amount and  (b) cost was of energy used in his Department and its agencies in each year since 1997; what proportion of the energy used was generated from renewable sources in each of those years; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Wills: Since the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) was created in May 2007, the estimated reported amount of energy used in MOJ and its agencies and the cost is:
	
		
			   Energy consumption 2007-08 kWh  Cost 2007-08 (£)  Energy  c onsumption 2008-09 kWh  Cost 2008-09 (£) 
			 Total 1,797,466,581 79,056,169.68 1,764,553,696 105,493,183 
		
	
	http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/publications.php?id=848
	Central Government Departments and their executive agencies had a target to source at least 10 per cent. of electricity from renewables by 31 March 2008. The proportion of energy generated from renewable sources for MOJ and its agencies was 8 per cent. in 2007-08. MOJ sourced 20 per cent. of its energy from renewable sources during 2008-09.
	Published data for 2007-08 can be found at:
	http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/publications.php?id=849
	Published data for 2008-09 can found at:
	http://www.ogc.gov.uk/sustainable_development_in_government_chp_consumption_and_ renewables.asp

Departmental Information Officers

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many staff in his Department and its agencies  (a) have the status of embedded communicators and  (b) are members of the Government Communications Network but are not listed in the Central Office of Information White Book.

Michael Wills: The following table lists the number of staff in embedded communications roles in the Ministry of Justice. The embedded communications staff is employed primarily in communications roles based in policy and delivery units outside central communications functions.
	
		
			  MOJ Group  Headcount (FTE) as of January 2010  GCN members 
			 Corporate Performance Group 6.5 5 
			 Democracy, Constitution and Law 3 2 
			 Access to Justice 0 0 
			 National Offender Management Service 17 n/a 
			 Criminal Justice 11.6 5 
			 Total MOJ 38.1 - 
		
	
	The Government Communications Network (GCN) membership is voluntary and not required to work in a communications role. Data on GCN membership is not collected and neither is it stored by the Ministry of Justice. The Cabinet Office unit who administer the GCN are unable to share membership data without the permission of individual members. Therefore it is not possible to readily provide accurate information for National Offender Management Service.

Departmental Manpower

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many layers of management reporting from the most senior to the most junior there are in his Department and each of its agencies; how many officials are employed in each such layer; and how much was spent on salaries and associated employment costs of staff at each such layer in the latest year for which information is available.

Michael Wills: Staff employed by the Ministry of Justice (excluding the National Offender Management Service (NOMS)) below the senior civil service (SCS) and its agencies (Her Majesty's Court Service (HMCS) and the Tribunals Service) are employed on the same terms and conditions. They work in job roles aligned to one of seven pay bands/grades-four of which may include management responsibilities. Allocation of a job role to a particular pay band is determined by the level of the level of responsibility and job evaluation. This grading system is comparable with the standard civil service grading system. In levels of descending seniority management grades below the SCS are:
	Band A is the highest (typical job roles include qualified solicitors or accountants and senior operational managers)
	Band B and C, which are middle management job roles (these may include junior lawyers or accountants, and legal advisors in magistrates courts)
	Band D job roles, which are the first level of supervision.
	The pay and grading structure for the SCS is managed by the Cabinet Office and is common across all civil service departments.
	Details of each level of management responsibility (including SCS), the number of staff in each layer, and the amount spent on staff salaries are contained in the following table.
	
		
			  Management level  Equivalent civil service descriptor  Number of staff  Salary costs (£) 
			 Corporate management board Permanent Secretary and Director General 10 2,028,371 
			 SCS Payband 2 Director 45 8,911,000 
			 SCS Payband 1 Deputy Director 195 20,332,896 
			 Band A Grade 6 and Grade 7 1,551 98,375,515 
			 Band B Senior Executive Officer 2,477 112,987,699 
			 Band C Higher Executive Officer 1,986 57,845,114 
			 Band D Executive Officer 4,673 123,435,357 
			  Notes: 1. The information provides details of basic salary but excludes payments of allowances, overtime and non-consolidated performance pay. Employers National Insurance and Pensions Contributions have been averaged at 19 per cent. for Bands A to F and 34 per cent. for SCS.  2. The information provided in the table relates to salary payments to staff working on the Ministry of Justice 'Deal' terms and conditions.  3. Details of the Permanent Secretary's remuneration is available in the MOJ Resource Accounts.  4. Latest salary cost information are for implementation of 2009-10 pay award effective 1 August 2009 with details of staff in post at that time. 
		
	
	Since July 2000, NOMS has operated a common unified pay structure for senior and middle managerial grades within 'Phase One' of their pay and grading arrangements. Roles are placed in one of seven paybands ranging from Senior Manager A to Manager G, which is determined by the level of responsibility of the role. Other grades on separate pay scales outside of 'Phase One' also provide a managerial function. These include Principal and Senior Prison Officers.
	Senior Manager A is the highest management level (typical roles include Governors of high security prisons). Typical middle management roles are placed at Manager E, F or G (roles at these levels include operational or administrative managers). Details of each level of management responsibility, the number of staff in each payband and the total amount spent on staff salaries and associated employment costs for the latest period for which figures are available (1 April 2009 to 31 December 2009) are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Management level  Equivalent civil service descriptor  Number of staff  Salary costs (£) 
			 Senior Manager A Grade 6 59 5,124,929 
			 Senior Manager B Grade 6 144 10,917,688 
			 Senior Manager C Grade 7 145 10,037,610 
			 Senior Manager D Grade 7 571 35,856,917 
			 Manager E SEO 1,336 62,313,486 
			 Manager F SEO 1,434 56,423,228 
			 Manager G HEO 921 27,067,627 
			 Managerial grades outside of phase one of pay and grading No single grade descriptor(1) 8,022 237,101,414 
			 (1 )These grades include roles such as senior officer and principal officer.  Note: Staff in post information is for December 2009.

Departmental Travel

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will publish the travel guidance issued to staff of each of his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies.

Michael Wills: Travel guidance for staff working in the Ministry of Justice and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) encompasses a number of different publications and either relates to the terms on which individuals claim reimbursement for business related travel, or health and safety advice. Any expenditure authorised for staff travelling on behalf of the Ministry is made in accordance with regulations on managing public money.
	Publications with travel guidance include:
	The Safe Driving at Work Policy Statement
	Travel and Subsistence Policy
	Information for staff travelling to work in bad weather.
	I will place the information referred to above relating to the Ministry of Justice (and where different, its agencies and NDPBs) in the House of Commons Library.

Driving Offences: Suffolk

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) convictions,  (b) cautions and  (c) fixed penalty notices have been given to people arrested for speeding offences in Suffolk in each year since 1997.

Alan Campbell: I have been asked to reply.
	Data from 1997 to 2007 (latest available) on fixed penalty notices issued for speeding offences in Suffolk police force area are provided in table A.
	Data provided by the Ministry of Justice, showing the number of convictions for speeding offences and vehicle registration and excise licence offences in Suffolk from 1997 to 2008 (latest available) can be viewed in Table B.
	Cautions are not issued by the police for speeding offences.
	Court proceedings data for 2009 are expected to be published in the autumn 2010.
	
		
			  Table A: Number of fixed penalty notices issued for speed limit offences, Suffolk police force area, 1997 to 2007( 1) 
			   Number of notices 
			 1997 7,271 
			 1998 12,640 
			 1999 18,088 
			 2000 12,596 
			 2001 12,416 
			 2002 9,477 
			 2003 16,606 
			 2004 40,847 
			 2005 40,029 
			 2006 34,442 
			 2007 30,378 
			 (1) From 2000 onwards the national safety camera programme was introduced which increased enforcement of speeding offences. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Number of convictions for speed limit offences in Suffolk from 1997 to 2008( 1) 
			  Number of offences 
			   Convicted at all courts 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Speed limit offences 1,052 1,469 1,678 1,233 1,252 1,284 776 1,856 3,249 3,054 3,418 3,577 
			 (1) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice. Ref: IOS 056-10 and Ref: IOS 057-10

Driving Offences: Suffolk

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) convictions,  (b) cautions and  (c) fixed penalty notices have been given to people arrested for driving without a valid MOT certificate in Suffolk in each year since 1997.

Alan Campbell: I have been asked to reply
	Data from 1997 to 2007 (latest available) on fixed penalty notices issued for vehicle test (MOT) offences in Suffolk police force area are provided in table A.
	Data on the number of convictions for vehicle test offences in Suffolk from 1997 to 2008 (latest available) can be viewed in table B.
	Data on fixed penalty notices held by the Home Office and Ministry of Justice cannot separately identify the specific offence of driving a vehicle without a valid MOT certificate. The following table shows the total number convictions for all vehicle test offences.
	Court proceedings data for 2009 are expected to be published in autumn 2010.
	
		
			  Table A: Number of fixed penalty notices issued for vehicle test offences, Suffolk  police force area, 1997 to 2007 
			   Number of notices 
			 1997 - 
			 1998 - 
			 1999 - 
			 2000 - 
			 2001 2 
			 2002 1 
			 2003 - 
			 2004 - 
			 2005 - 
			 2006 60 
			 2007 471 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Number of convictions for vehicle test offences in Suffolk 1997 to 2008( 1) 
			  Number of offences 
			   Convicted at all courts 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Vehicle test offences 1,707 1,757 1,951 1,769 1,717 2,009 2,309 2,180 1,588 1,196 777 474 
			 (1 )Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services-Ministry of Justice (Ref: IOS 056-10) and (Ref: IOS 057-10).

Electoral Register: Overseas Residence

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of eligible overseas electors who are registered to vote.

Michael Wills: The Government are keen to enhance registration rates generally, including among overseas electors. The Government have laid a statutory instrument in Parliament which extends the service voter declaration period from three to five years in respect of members of the armed forces, and their spouses or civil partners. This is intended to facilitate higher levels of registration among overseas service personnel.
	The Electoral Commission promote awareness of UK electoral systems and electoral registration procedures including how to vote, and has conducted a series of promotional campaigns aimed at enhancing the registration rates among overseas electors more generally. The latest campaign ran in autumn 2009. I understand that it included online advertising using websites popular with British citizens living abroad and the distribution of information via British consulates and embassies. The campaign resulted in almost 25,000 visits to the overseas voters page of the Commission's About My Vote website. More than 7,000 overseas voter registration forms were downloaded from the site during the campaign.
	The Commission will also target British citizens living abroad as part of its campaign ahead of a UK parliamentary general election. The campaign will encourage people to register to vote and also make them aware of the absent voting options available to them.

Human Trafficking: Victims

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent steps his Department has taken to support victims of human trafficking.

Maria Eagle: From 2003-09 we invested £5.8 million in the Poppy Project to provide specialist support to women trafficked into sexual exploitation only. Over the current and next financial year we have invested an additional £3.9 million in the provision of specialist support to victims of all forms of human trafficking, including victims of sexual exploitation, domestic servitude and forced labour. This includes as a minimum: safe accommodation; advocacy; access to counselling; access to legal advice and interpretative services.
	A National Referral Mechanism (NRM) has been put in place to systematically identify victims and refer them to specialist support. Identified victims are granted an extendable 45-day recovery and reflection period in which to consider their options and access specialist support services, and one-year temporary residency permits in certain circumstances.
	A victim's information leaflet, produced in October 2009 is now available in a range of languages. The leaflet provides information for victims on the support available to them, their options and legal rights.

Iraq Committee of Inquiry

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) documents and  (b) other items of information in electronic format provided by his Department to the Iraq Inquiry that Inquiry has sought to publish under the procedure set out in the protocol on documents and other written and electronic information; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Wills: I refer the hon. Lady to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office, and for the Olympics and Paymaster General (Tessa Jowell) on 9 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 893-94W.

Land Registry: Manpower

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people the Land Registry employed on the latest date for which figures are available.

Michael Wills: The latest figures available are for 1 February 2010 and are shown in the following table. The figures shown under off strength refer to staff who remain employees of Land Registry but are not currently on the payroll, for example staff who are on career breaks or unpaid maternity leave or unpaid special leave.
	
		
			   Number 
			  Headcount  
			 On strength 6,263 
			 Off strength 128 
			 Total 6,391 
			   
			  Full time equivalents  
			 On strength 5,665 
			 Off strength 100 
			 Total 5,765

Land Registry: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent representations he has received on the proposed closure of the Land Registry's Peterborough office; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Wills: Land Registry published their Accelerated Transformation Proposals on 22 October 2009. A public consultation on the proposal to close five offices closures ended on 29 January 2010. The Peterborough Land Registry office was one of those proposed for closure.
	Land Registry have received responses from local MPs and MEPs in Peterborough and the surrounding area, and from their constituents, regarding these proposals. All contributions are now being considered and Land Registry currently plans to announce final decisions and publish a full responses document in March.

Life Imprisonment

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average tariff given with a mandatory life-sentence was in each of the last 10 years.

Jack Straw: The average length of tariff given to offenders sentenced to a mandatory life sentence in each of the last 10 years, as at 5 February 2010, is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Year of sentence  Number sentenced  Average days  Average in years (1 year = 365 days) 
			 2000 251 5,228 14.32 
			 2001 278 5,111 14.00 
			 2002 304 4,814 13.19 
			 2003 280 4,992 13.68 
			 2004 355 5,298 14.52 
			 2005 366 5,891 16.14 
			 2006 383 6,402 17.54 
			 2007 353 5,806 15.91 
			 2008 435 6,556 17.96 
			 2009 317 6,402 17.54 
			 Totals 3,322 - - 
		
	
	The figures include those sentenced to a mandatory life sentence that subsequently had their sentence quashed or died. In a further 144 cases of prisoners sentenced over this period, the courts have yet to determine the length of tariff or the prisoner was given a life sentence by another jurisdiction. The figures also exclude those life sentence prisoners who have been given a whole life tariff. There were 19 whole life tariffs handed down by the courts during this period.
	The figures were taken from the Public Protection Unit Database (PPUD) in the National Offender Management Service, and, as with any large scale recording system, it is subject to possible errors arising from either data entry or processing. The PPUD is a live database, updated on a regular basis. As a result, snapshots taken in consecutive days will contain differences reflecting updates.

National Offender Management Service

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the  (a) role and  (b) responsibilities will be of the Chief Executive Officer of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS); and what the (i) role and (ii) responsibilities have been of the Director General of NOMS.

Jack Straw: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) is an Executive agency of the Ministry of Justice through which correctional services and interventions are commissioned and provided across England and Wales, within the strategic policy framework set by the UK Government. It is responsible for commissioning adult offender services and delivering these through a range of providers from the public, private and third sectors, as efficiently and effectively as possible, in all of the regions of England and Wales. The agency is also commissioned by the Youth Justice Board to provide youth custody places in young offender institutions.
	The chief executive is the director general of NOMS. These are not different roles. The responsibilities of the chief executive are:
	(a) reports to the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Justice and is a member of the Ministry's Corporate Management Board (CMB), fully contributing to the strategic direction of the Ministry and jointly accountable as such for its collective performance;
	(b) supports Ministers, the permanent secretary and the Ministry of Justice's CMB by delivering against departmental strategic objective 3-protecting the public and reducing re-offending -and he/she is ultimately accountable to the Secretary of State for the overall performance of the agency and the delivery of its plans, objectives, targets and standards;
	(c) as the accounting officer for the agency, he or she is responsible for managing, allocating and accounting for the budget of NOMS agency;
	(d) has a key role in influencing other Government Departments to address the needs of offenders, and in providing feedback to sentencing bodies and others about the delivery and outcomes of various sentencing options; and.
	(e) has overall leadership responsibility for the strategic direction and performance of the agency.
	There is, however, a separate role of chief operating officer, also at DG level, which is responsible for delivery of prison and probation operations to meet MOJ strategic objectives on 'helping to protect the public and reduce re-offending'; specifically:
	Development of a coherent regional delivery model to support the efficient and effective management of offenders in custody and community to protect the public and reduce reoffending;
	Delivery of an integrated efficient and effective offender management system;
	Development of realistic and deliverable reducing reoffending action plans, to achieve a 10 per cent. reduction in re-offending by 2011-12.
	The chief operating officer is also responsible for ensuring operational delivery risks and constraints are fully understood and considered in developing the direction of the NOMS agency and in development of CJ strategy within MOJ.

Offences Against Children: Convictions

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the answer of 20 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1438W, on children: abuse, how many people aged 21 years and over with a previous conviction were  (a) prosecuted and  (b) convicted for offences relating to child abuse in 2008.

Jack Straw: According to information recorded by the police on the Police National Computer (PNC) there were 1,323 offenders aged 21 and over who were convicted in 2008 in England and Wales of offences relating to child abuse; at the time of their conviction 721 of these had one or more previous convictions for offences of any kind. Equivalent figures for offenders who have been prosecuted are not available.
	These figures have been drawn from the police's administrative IT system which, as with any large scale recording system, is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. The figures are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the police. PNC data have been used here rather than court proceedings data, which are the usual source of published conviction statistics, as the PNC provides information on the criminal history of offenders.

Open Prisons

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 12 January 2010,  Official Report, column 933W, on open prisons, how many prisoners convicted of murder were held in open prison in each of the last five years.

Jack Straw: The following table gives figures for the numbers of prisoners serving sentences for murder held in open prisons in the years between 2005 and 2009:
	
		
			  Prisoners held in open prisons serving sentences for murder 2005-09 
			   2005  2006  2007  2008  2009 
			 Total 350 310 260 270 275 
			 Askham Grange 5 5 5 5 10 
			 Ford 40 40 25 35 25 
			 Hewell(1) 0 0 0 5 10 
			 Hollesley Bay 20 10 15 15 20 
			 Kirkham 25 25 25 30 30 
			 Leyhill 85 75 60 55 50 
			 Moorland Open 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North Sea Camp 40 30 20 15 25 
			 Prescoed 35 25 20 20 15 
			 Spring Hill 20 20 15 15 15 
			 Standford Hill 15 10 20 15 10 
			 Sudbury 65 65 50 55 60 
			 East Sutton Park 0 5 5 5 5 
			 (1) Hewell consists of three units; only the open unit has been counted.  Note: Totals rounded to the nearest five; figures for June each year. 
		
	
	The total number of prisoners convicted of murder and in prison was around 4,900 at the end of June 2009. The figure in the open estate is therefore 5 per cent of. the total. There have been open prisons since 1936 and they are widely accepted as the most effective means of ensuring prisoners are tested in the community before they are released. To release prisoners directly from a closed prison without the resettlement benefits of the open estate would undoubtedly lead to higher levels of post-release reoffending.
	Prisoners are assessed objectively in a process looking at all aspects of their offending behaviour, actions they have taken to reduce their likelihood of reoffending and the risk they pose to the public. They are placed in the lowest security category consistent with their assessed risk. Only prisoners placed in the lowest security category (D) may be allocated to open conditions. If their behaviour becomes a cause for concern, they can be moved back to more secure conditions.
	Prisoners convicted of murder serving life sentences and other indeterminate sentence prisoners will be transferred from closed to open prison conditions only following the acceptance of a Parole Board recommendation to the Secretary of State. Before making such a recommendation, the Parole Board must be satisfied that the case meets the criteria set out in the Directions to the Parole Board under section 32(6) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991, of which the risk of abscond is a central factor.
	Transfer of any prisoner to open conditions will only take place if continued detention in closed conditions is no longer necessary for the protection of the public. Open conditions allow prisoners to find work, re-establish family ties and reintegrate into the community. All these are essential components for successful resettlement and an important factor in protecting the public.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. Totals for each prison have been rounded to the nearest five and the grand total to the nearest 10; separately rounded sub-totals may not add to the rounded total.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Political Parties

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 5 January 2010 from the hon. Member representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether he has given a direction to the Electoral Commission on which of the UK's electoral regions should receive the additional European Parliament seat provided for under the Treaty of Lisbon.

Michael Wills: No. The Government will ask the Electoral Commission to make a recommendation on this issue in due course.

Prison Accommodation

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Chesterfield of 7 January 2010,  Official Report, column 546W, on prison accommodation, how many places were not included in the certified normal accommodation of the prison estate in each of the last three years.

Jack Straw: This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost as it would require a manual trawl of the changes to every establishment's certified normal accommodation over the last three years.

Prisoners Release: Domestic Violence

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the answers of 2 November 2009,  Official Report, columns 741W and 742W, on prisoners' release: domestic violence and prisoners' release: reoffenders, whether any offender on end of custody licence has been  (a) charged with and  (b) convicted of an offence (i) relating to domestic violence and (ii) of manslaughter since 2 November 2009.

Jack Straw: Determinate sentenced prisoners may be released into the community up to 18 days earlier than the halfway point of their sentence under the End of Custody Licence (ECL) Scheme. Indeterminate sentenced prisoners are not eligible for ECL.
	Data on ECL releases, recalls and alleged re-offending are published every month on the following website:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/endofcustodylicence.htm
	The total number of alleged further offences committed by prisoners during their period of ECL as notified to NOMS for period 29 June 2007 to 31 December 2009 is 1,543, as published in the ECL releases and recalls statistical bulletin published on 29 January 2010.
	Where the National Offender Management Offender Service (NOMS) is notified of a further charge while an offender is subject to ECL, it is not centrally recorded as to whether the offence was specifically in relation to violence within a domestic setting. Such information would be contained within individual records and could only be collated by manual checking of individual case details and could only be carried out at disproportionate cost.
	In addition to data held on offenders who are notified to the National Offender Management Service as having been charged with an offence while subject to ECL, of those offenders who since 2 November 2009 were released on ECL and who were subject to probation supervision, NOMS has received no notification in line with serious further offences procedures that there has been any case where an offender has been charged with manslaughter.

Prisoners: Foreigners

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many convicted foreign national prisoners were released from prisons in England and Wales in the last 12 months.

Jack Straw: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I provided on 14 December 2009,  Official Report, column 801W.
	The number of discharges of foreign national prisoners from completed determinate sentences in 2008 was 9,500. This figure has been rounded to the nearest 100.
	Data for 2009 are not yet available.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	Data for 2009 will be available following publication of Offender Management Caseload statistics 2009, scheduled for release in July 2010.

Prisons: Drugs

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the relationship between the supply of illicit drugs into prison and the effectiveness of drug treatment in prisons; and what assessment was made of the merits of including demand for illegal drugs in the remit of the Blakey Review.

Maria Eagle: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) has a comprehensive drug strategy for prisons. It has three key elements that interlink to reduce drug related offending and address individual need:
	reducing supply, through security measures and drug testing programmes;
	reducing demand, through targeted interventions for low, moderate and severe drug-misusers; and
	establishing effective through-care links to ensure continuity of treatment post-release in order to safeguard the gains made in custody.
	The overall success of the strategy is evidenced by the reduction in drug misuse in prisons, as measured by random mandatory drug testing. Since 1996-97 the proportion of prisoners testing positive has declined by 68 per cent. In 2008-09 prisons undertook 5.4 per cent. more random mandatory drug tests than in 1996-97. The reduced availability of drugs in prisons provides a firm foundation on which to deliver drug treatment.
	NOMS has in place a comprehensive drug treatment framework, based on the National Treatment Agency's Models of Care, to address the needs of drug misusing prisoners. The interventions available are designed to meet the needs of low, moderate and severe drug misusers-irrespective of age, gender or ethnicity. Since 1996-97 funding for prison drug treatment has increased year on year, and is now over 15 times that of 1997 (total 2009-10 allocation is around £112 million).
	On 31 January 2008 the Justice Secretary's paper, Prison Policy Update, set out the steps being taken to tackle drug misuse in prison. Following this the Justice Secretary and the NOMS Director General commissioned two reviews-David Blakey's review Disrupting the supply of illicit drugs into prisons and the Prison Drug Treatment Strategy Review Group led by Lord Patel. The focus of the two reviews was complementary, covering respectively security and treatment issues. Together they addressed the range of issues associated with illegal drugs in prison.

Voting Systems

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he has made a recent assessment of the likely effects of the implementation of a preferential voting system on the number of invalid votes cast in an election.

Jack Straw: The Government's Review of Voting Systems, published in 2008, found that
	there was no conclusive evidence that any one particular voting system is more confusing for the voter, in terms of casting their votes correctly, than any other system.

Young Offenders: Reoffenders

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of  (a) juveniles and  (b) young adult offenders was reconvicted within two years of release in each year since 1997.

Maria Eagle: Reoffending data is based on offences committed within one year of an offenders' release from custody. Reoffending data covering time periods longer than one year are not collated.
	Data on the reoffending of juveniles and young adults from before 2000 are not available.
	The proportion of juveniles that committed a proven offence within one year of leaving custody is shown in table 1.
	
		
			  Table 1: Reoffending rates of juveniles discharged from custody, 2000, 2002-07 
			  Cohort  Number of offenders discharged from custody  Percentage reoffending within one year 
			 Q1 2000 912 75.7 
			 Q1 2002 959 72.9 
			 Q1 2003 786 73.8 
			 Q1 2004 815 76.4 
			 Q1 2005 844 73.1 
			 Q1 2006 817 77.0 
			 Q1 2007 778 75.3 
		
	
	The proportion of young adults that committed a proven offence within one year of leaving custody is shown in table 2.
	
		
			  Table 2: Reoffending rates of young adults discharged from custody, 2000, 2002-07, by age band 
			  Age group  Cohort  Number of offenders discharged from custody  Percentage reoffending within one year 
			 18-20 Q1 2000 2,700 64.6 
			  Q1 2002 2,462 65.3 
			  Q1 2003 2,133 62.2 
			  Q1 2004 2,131 60.2 
			  Q1 2005 1,978 58.3 
			  Q1 2006 1,816 55.2 
			  Q1 2007 1,687 58.7 
			 
			 21-24 Q1 2000 3,338 58.5 
			  Q1 2002 3,508 60.4 
			  Q1 2003 3,237 60.0 
			  Q1 2004 3,311 55.2 
			  Q1 2005 2,938 52.5 
			  Q1 2006 2,763 49.0 
			  Q1 2007 2,349 49.4 
			 
			 Total Q1 2000 6,038 61.3 
			  Q1 2002 5,970 62.4 
			  Q1 2003 5,370 60.9 
			  Q1 2004 5,442 57.2 
			  Q1 2005 4,916 54.8 
			  Q1 2006 4,579 51.5 
			  Q1 2007 4,036 53.3 
		
	
	Reoffending data are not available for 2001 due to a problem with archived data on court orders.
	Please note that the definition of a proven reoffence differs between adults and juveniles. For adults, any offence within a year of release from custody, that is proven by court conviction within 18 months of release, is counted as a reoffence. For juveniles, an offence proven by court conviction or a caution within the same time period is counted as a reoffence. For these reasons the adult and juvenile reoffending rates are not comparable.
	The frequency of reoffending by juveniles given an out of court disposal, commencing a non-custodial court disposal or discharged from custody in England and Wales fell by 23.6 per cent. from 151.4 offences per 100 offenders in 2000 to 115.7 in 2007.
	Further information on adult reoffending is available at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/reoffendingofadults.htm
	Further information on juvenile reoffending is available at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/reoffendingjuveniles.htm
	In England, the number of offenders aged 10-17 entering the criminal justice system for the first time fell from 94,481 in 2007-08 to 74,033 in 2008-09-a 21.6 per cent. decrease.
	Further information on first time entrants is available at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/STR/d000895/index.shtml

Youth Justice Board: Finance

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much funding the Youth Justice Board is providing to the Prison Service's Women and Young People Group in 2009-10.

Maria Eagle: The Youth Justice Board has provided NOMS Service Development Group (formerly Women's and Young People's Group) with £118.180 million of funding to deliver approximately 2,400 custodial places and associated services for all young men aged 15 to 17 and 17-year-old young women during the 2009-10 period. On occasion this may also include 16-year-old young women and 18 to 19-year-old young men and women.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Affordable Housing

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many Homebuy providers there are in each region.

John Healey: The following table shows the number of providers who have been allocated funding for Homebuy schemes within the 2008-11 National Affordable Housing Programme.
	
		
			  Region  Number of providers 
			 East Midlands 39 
			 East of England 48 
			 London 54 
			 North East 21 
			 North West 37 
			 South East 52 
			 South West 30 
			 West Midlands 34 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 36

Affordable Housing

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been spent on the Rent to HomeBuy scheme in each region on the latest date for which figures are available.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 9 February 2010,  Official Report, columns 866-68W.

Affordable Housing

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what the average income of a Rent to HomeBuy  (a) tenant and  (b) purchaser was in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many homes were rented under the Rent to HomeBuy scheme in each region in each of the last three years;
	(3)  how many active tenancies there are under the Rent to HomeBuy scheme in each Government Office region.

John Healey: Rent to HomeBuy was launched in July 2008. Data on the number of homes rented, active tenancies and the average income of tenants and purchasers are not held centrally.

Affordable Housing

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many Rent to HomeBuy completions there have been in 2009-10; and how many households have purchased a stake in their home under that scheme in 2009-10.

John Healey: Provisional data from the Homes and Communities Agency show that there were 1,899 Rent to HomeBuy completions up to end September 2009.
	Data are not held centrally on the number of purchases under Rent to HomeBuy.

Affordable Housing

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the term Homebuy is monitored as part of  (a) his Department's media monitoring and  (b) media monitoring undertaken by a private consultancy on behalf of his Department.

John Healey: Yes.

Affordable Housing

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many officials in his Department administer the Homebuy scheme.

John Healey: The homebuy scheme is administered by the Homes and Communities Agency on behalf of the Department. There are nine full-time equivalent employees working on low cost home ownership policy, including delivery of the homebuy scheme, within the Department.

Affordable Housing

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many times the eligibility criteria for participation in the Homebuy scheme have changed since the inception of the scheme; and if he will list each such change.

John Healey: The homebuy scheme was introduced in 2006. Households with an income of up to £60,000 who were unable to buy a home on the open market without assistance, were eligible to apply for assistance. The basic eligibility criteria has not changed.
	From 2006-08 priority for support was given to social tenants, prospective social tenants, key workers in the health, education and community safety sectors in London, the South East and the East of England, and those identified by regional housing boards. Some regional boards set lower income caps for support. From 2008 priority was given, in order, to social tenants, prospective social tenants, key workers in all regions and any other first-time buyers.

Affordable Housing

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which programmes are included in the Homebuy scheme; how much has been allocated to each such programme to date; and how many dwellings have been sold under each such programme to date.

John Healey: The following products are included in the Homebuy scheme; OpenMarket HomeBuy, NewBuild HomeBuy, Social HomeBuy, HomeBuy Direct, and Rent to HomeBuy.
	The allocations and provisional completions for each product are listed in the following tables.
	
		
			  Allocations 
			   £ 
			   2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Open Market HomeBuy 78,890,252 84,507,252 212,919,256 
			 New Build HomeBuy 403,234,599 373,239,643 203,239,702 
			 Social HomeBuy 536,400 1,912,175 973,175 
			 HomeBuy Direct 0 0 0 
			 Rent to HomeBuy 0 0 123,526,245 
			  482,661,251 459,659,070 540,658,378 
		
	
	
		
			  Completions 
			   2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Open Market HomeBuy 2,337 2,876 6,216 
			 New Build HomeBuy 3,023 10,131 8,898 
			 Social HomeBuy 47 157 93 
			 HomeBuy Direct 0 0 0 
			 Rent to HomeBuy 0 0 1,173 
			  5,407 13,164 16,380

Affordable Housing

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how much funding his Department has allocated to the Homebuy scheme in financial year 2009-10 to date; how much such funding it expects to allocate in financial years  (a) 2010-11,  (b) 2011-12,  (c) 2012-13,  (d) 2013-14 and  (e) 2014-15; and how much such funding it expects to allocate beyond financial year 2014-15;
	(2)  how much funding his Department has allocated to low cost income ownership programmes in financial year 2009-10 to date; how much such funding it expects to allocate in financial years  (a) 2010-11,  (b) 2011-12,  (c) 2012-13,  (d) 2013-14 and  (e) 2014-15; and how much such funding it expects to allocate beyond financial year 2014-15.

John Healey: From 1 April 2009 to 30 December 2009 the Homes and Communities Agency has allocated £1,082 million for Homebuy and other low cost home ownership products within their Affordable Housing Programme.
	Allocations for the Affordable Housing Programme 2008-11 are made as part of the Homes and Communities continuous market engagement process. Future estimated levels of allocations beyond 2010-11 will be dependent upon the outcome of the next spending review.

Buildings: Energy

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many properties on the  (a) domestic and  (b) non-domestic Energy Performance Certificate Register have received more than one inspection in the last three years; and for how many the rating (i) declined and (ii) improved in the last inspection.

John Healey: There is no information held centrally about the number of energy assessments that are carried out on individual buildings in either the domestic or non-domestic sectors.

Community Development: Business

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been spent on  (a) assistance to businesses,  (b) staffing,  (c) administration and  (d) publicity under the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative since its inception; and how many businesses have been assisted by the initiative.

Rosie Winterton: LEGI is allocated to local authorities to support enterprise in deprived areas, thereby giving them the flexibility to best determine the local needs and use the funding in creative ways to support local priorities. The total programme from 2006-07 to 2010-11 is worth £418 million.
	As a locally managed fund, central Government do not hold the information requested.
	However, an independent national evaluation of LEGI is scheduled to be published later this year which will help to identify and disseminate good practice.

Eco-Towns

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what factors his Department plans to take into account in awarding the  (a) minimum and  (b) maximum allocations to each of the eco-town projects, as referred to in the notes for editors of his Department's press notice of 8 February 2010;
	(2)  what proportion of the funding announced in his Department's press notice of 8 February 2010 on eco-towns will come from each programme budget of  (a) his Department and  (b) the Homes and Communities Agency; and what proportion of the funding will come from the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

John Healey: Details about the programme budgets to support the first wave eco-towns in 200-10 will be set out in the Spring Supplementaries, which are due to be published shortly.
	The majority of the £60 million growth fund that I announced last July to support the first wave locations has been allocated to local authorities and will be paid via the HCA. In addition we have provided support for the HCA's delivery role. DCSF have allocated £2.5 million from their programme budget to support greener schools.
	I will decide on the funding allocations to the local authorities for 2010-11, pending further assessment of development agreements with investors. We will also need to take account of a range of factors including progress on delivery of projects, and we and the HCA will be having further discussion with authorities on these matters.

Empty Property: Lancashire

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of properties in West Lancashire constituency which have been empty for more than  (a) two and  (b) five years.

Barbara Follett: This information for either domestic or non-domestic properties is not held centrally.
	Our reforms to empty property relief for non-domestic are principled and right for the long-term. They provide a strong incentive on owners to bring empty property back into use, helping to improve access to premises for businesses and so to exert a downward pressure on commercial rents.
	However, we provided owners with real help to manage short-term pressures in a difficult property market by exempting all empty properties with rateable values up to £15,000 from business rates in 2009-10.
	We have listened to the continued concerns of owners and we are extending the temporary measure for a further 12 months-to cover the whole of 2010-11-and we are uprating the threshold to £18,000 in line with the general movement of property values at revaluation.

Fire Services: Pensions

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield of 26 January 2010,  Official Report, column 770W, on local government and fire services: pensions, what the timetable is for the review of whether to restrict the employer contributions made to the firefighters' pension scheme.

Rosie Winterton: The Firefighters Pension Committee has begun to consider the application of cap and share arrangements for the firefighters' pension schemes. Further meetings of the Committee have been arranged and the next one takes place on 15 March 2010. Consultations with stakeholders will follow once the arrangements have been drafted.

Government Offices for the Regions: Finance

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which programme budgets are administered for each Government Department by the Government Offices for the Regions.

Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her by the Secretary of State on 10 February 2010,  Official Report, column 1029W.

Home Information Packs

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 3 February 2010,  Official Report, columns 359-60W, on home information packs, if he will place in the Library a copy of the final report by the Working Group on Condition Information in the Home Buying and Selling Process; on what date the report was submitted to his Department; and what steps he plans to take in response to that report.

Ian Austin: The final report of the Working Group on Condition Information was submitted to the Department in late December. We are looking carefully at the recommendations and will set out our response in due course.

Homelessness: Torbay

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) rough sleepers and  (b) homeless people there were in Torbay constituency in (i) 1997 and (ii) the latest period for which figures are available.

Ian Austin: Data on rough sleeping and local housing authorities' activities under homelessness legislation are collected at local authority rather than constituency level. Torbay constituency falls within Torbay unitary authority.
	Information on rough sleeping has been collected since 1998. In Torbay in 1998 there were 31 rough sleepers. The last street count in 2007 found nine rough sleepers.
	We have reduced rough sleeping by 75 per cent. since 1998. Our national baseline was 1,850 in 1998 and the latest headline figure based on local authority rough sleeper counts was 464 for 2009.
	The numbers of households accepted as statutory homeless in Torbay unitary authority in 1997-98 and 2007-08 are 253 and 119 respectively. The number of households accommodated by the Torbay unitary authority in temporary accommodation as at 30 March 1997 is 25 and as at 30 September 2009 is 163.
	In 2002, we put stronger legislation in place by ensuring that more vulnerable people who face homelessness are provided with help and accommodation by extending the categories of people who have a 'priority need for accommodation under the homelessness legislation-hence why more people were placed in temporary accommodation.
	We know we need to do more to help people into settled homes. That's why our strategy includes the challenging target of halving the number of people living in temporary accommodation to 50,500 by 2010.
	We have allocated a total of £220 million to local authorities and voluntary organisations over the three years 2008-09 to 2010-11 to support their strategies for tackling and preventing homelessness in their area.
	The Government continue to demonstrate a long-term commitment to affordable housing, which is why between June and November we approved more than £2.4 billion towards 41,000 new affordable homes in England. Of this funding over £3 million has been allocated to schemes for Torbay.
	This includes the largest council house-building programme for nearly two decades and funding for housing associations to build more homes for affordable sale or rent, and thousands of first time buyers have also managed to get a foothold on the property ladder thanks to our homebuy schemes.

Homes and Communities Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much  (a) the Homes and Communities Agency,  (b) the Homes and Communities Agency Academy and  (c) the Tenant Services Authority spent on (i) advertising and (ii) marketing in (A) 2008-09 and (B) 2009-10 to date; and how much has been budgeted for such expenditure in 2009-10.

John Healey: The following table provides information on advertising and marketing spend by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), the Homes and Communities Agency Academy and the Tenant Services Authority (TSA) in 2008-09. Full details of spend for 2009-10 will be available once the Annual Report and Accounts are published later this year.
	
		
			  2008-09 spend 
			  £000 
			   HCA  HCA academy  TSA 
			 Advertising 92 7 5 
			 Marketing 515 62 18 
			  Notes: 1. All figures are subject to rounding. 2. The 2008-09 spend relates to the costs incurred since HCA and TSA's inception on 1 December 2008 and include the one offset up costs of both bodies.

Homes and Communities Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was spent by the  (a) Finance and Corporate Services,  (b) Strategy, Performance and Research,  (c) Investment and Regeneration,  (d) Land and Development,  (e) New Ventures and Partnerships and  (f) Skills and Knowledge division of the Homes and Communities Agency in 2008-09; how much has been budgeted for each division in 2009-10; and what proportion of each figure is attributable to staff costs.

John Healey: The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) was launched on 1 December 2008 but some time passed before its directorates were fully established, and for this reason it is not possible to provide a break-down of costs by division for 2008-09.
	For 2009-10, the planned budgets for 2009-10 for these directorates, including how much is attributable to staff costs, is set out as follows:
	
		
			  2009-10 Budgets 
			  £000 
			   Finance and Corporate Services  Strategy  Investment and Renewal  New Ventures and Partnerships  Academy (Skills and Knowledge) 
			 Total staff costs 9,715 7,463 3,543 7,876 1,771 
			 Other costs(1) 1,477 1,027 770 676 157 
			 Total 11,192 8,490 4,313 8,552 1,928 
			 (1 )Includes travel and subsistence, regional training and where applicable, programme fees. Excludes agency-wide costs which cannot be disaggregated, such as accommodation costs and office facilities, IT, legal and records, national training.

Homes and Communities Agency: Loans

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 3 February 2010,  Official Report, column 361W, on Homes and Communities Agency and Tenant Services Authority loans, what rate of interest was applied to loans to staff; and for what reason the loans were made.

John Healey: The Homes and Communities Agency and Tenant Services Authority staff loans break down as follows:
	
		
			   Number  £ 
			  HCA   
			 Bicycle loans 2 1,000 
			 Season ticket loans 91 179,429.03 
			 Total  180,429.03 
			
			  TSA   
			 Car loans 4 41,244 
			 Season ticket loans 55 110,043 
			 Salary advances 8 9,640 
			 Total  160,927 
		
	
	The season tickets, bicycle loans and salary advances are interest free and are to be repaid within 12 months of receipt.
	The interest rate for the car loans which are available to those designated as an essential user varies according to the five years National Loan Funds rate which is compounded half yearly and converted into the annual percentage rate before being fixed for the term of the loan. The maximum term for car loans is five years.

Housing Associations: Finance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many housing associations have been assigned to grade  (a) 3 and  (b) 4 following a Tenant Services Authority review of their financial position; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: At present the Tenant Services Authority has two organisations whose judgment level (J) for viability is graded at J3. None are currently graded at J4.

Housing: Finance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how much his Department plans to spend on improving the supply and quality of housing in  (a) 2009-10,  (b) 2010-11 and  (c) 2011-12 in (i) cash terms and (ii) 2008-09 prices;
	(2)  how much his Department spent against its Objective 4 to deliver a better balance between housing supply and demand  (a) in cash terms and  (b) in 2009-10 prices in each of the last five years.

John Healey: Information on departmental plans to spend on improving the supply and quality of housing in 2009-10 and 2010-11 was published in the 2009 departmental annual report, at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/annualreport09
	including programmes delivered by the Homes and Communities Agency. Although given timing of publication the 2009 report was not able to reflect budget changes made to support the £1.5 billion Housing Pledge covering 2009-11 announced in Building Britain's Future on 29 June 2009, planned spending figures resulting from the Housing Pledge were subsequently specifically identified in the Homes and Communities Agency's corporate plan 2009-11 (see section on Housing Pledge in table 3 on page 28) published in September 2009, at:
	http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/publications
	For conversion to 2008-09 prices, Government use the GDP deflator to allow for the effects of changes in prices. This can be found on HM Treasury's website at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/data_gdp_index.htm
	Plans on spending on the supply and quality of housing for 2011-12 will be determined through the next spending review.
	Figures for departmental spending on housing supply and demand for 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07, are shown in each of the annual departmental reports covering those years. The 2008 departmental annual report provided data on 2007-08 spend on public service agreement target 5 (to achieve a better balance between housing availability and the demand for housing) on housing supply. In line with Treasury guidance, 2008 was the last report on public service agreements which had an end date later than 2008 but were subsumed within our CSR07 public service agreements and departmental strategic objectives. The 2008-09 departmental annual report showed forecast out-turn spend figures for 2008-09 against the new departmental strategic objective on improving the supply and quality of housing.
	Expenditure can be converted to 2009-10 prices using the GDP deflator as published by HMT. This deflator is calculated from ONS data for seasonally adjusted current and constant price GDP for years up to 2008-09. The 2009-10 deflator is derived from HM Treasury forecasts for GDP deflator increases at the pre-Budget report 2009.

Housing: Finance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average Homes and Communities Agency grant per unit was for a new  (a) affordable home and  (b) home for social rent in each region in (i) each of the last three years and (ii) 2009-10 to date.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Member for Dudley, North (Mr. Austin) on 15 July 2009,  Official Report, column 495W.
	The following table shows the average grant per unit for social rent and low cost home ownership for 2009-10 to end September 2009 for each region.
	
		
			  £ 
			   Social rent  Intermediate housing 
			 East Midlands 39,325 24,408 
			 Eastern 43,638 29,491 
			 London 106,618 45,633 
			 North East 44,035 19,444 
			 North West 57,193 33,211 
			 South East 53,203 32,017 
			 South West 47,526 28,980 
			 West Midlands 52,133 27,243 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 52,505 25,585 
			  Source:  Homes and Communities Agency.

Housing: Standards

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was spent by his Department on the English House Condition Survey in 2008-09.

John Healey: Expenditure on the English Housing Survey in 2008-09 was £4,737,821 which includes the cost of household interviews, surveyor training, property inspections and the Department's expenditure on the Survey.
	Further information about the EHCS, including annual reports, can be found at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/ehcs
	Further information about the EHS can be found at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/englishhousingsurvey

Land Use: Agriculture

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate his Department has made of the area of farmland of grade  (a) 1,  (b) 2,  (c) 3a,  (d) 3b,  (e) 4 and  (f) 5 taken for development in each of the last five years.

Ian Austin: Annual information on the estimated area of agricultural land in hectares changing to a developed use in England for the most recent five years available is given in the following table:
	
		
			   Hectares 
			 2003 5,990 
			 2004 2,690 
			 2005 4,160 
			 2006 2,950 
			 2007 2,760 
		
	
	Information on how much of the above changes were from each grade of agricultural land could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Local Government Finance: Barnet

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 16 October 2009,  Official Report, column 1129W, on local government: Barnet, if he will place in the Library a copy of the final report on the pilot study.

Barbara Follett: The London borough of Barnet has received an evaluation of its Behaviour Change Pilot Projects and is considering publishing the findings. As the pilot projects were directly commissioned by the London borough of Barnet, a decision on whether to publish a report rests with the council.

Local Government: East of England

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the cost to the public purse has been of the structural review of local government in Norfolk, Suffolk and Devon.

Rosie Winterton: The Department does not hold information about the costs incurred by local authorities of participating in the Boundary Committee's structural reviews in Devon, Norfolk and Suffolk. In the normal course of their business, local authorities respond to many consultation exercises and requests for information, and consequently, budget for this as part of their business planning.
	The Boundary Committee estimate of their total costs, to date, of the three structural reviews is over £1.4 million.
	Within the Department, there are currently some 10 full time-equivalent staff working on the structure of local government including work on unitary council restructuring-supporting those new unitaries that were created on 1 April 2009 and taking forward the reviews in Devon, Norfolk and Suffolk-and on improving the operation of two-tier local government. The anticipated expenditure in 2009-10 is some £590,000.

Members: Correspondence

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to respond to the letter of 5 January 2010 from the hon. Member for Billericay on his constituent Mr. M. Beiley.

Barbara Follett: A reply was sent to this letter on 9 February 2010.

Mobile Homes Act 1983

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will begin the proposed consultation on reforms to the Mobile Homes Act 1983 within the next two months.

Ian Austin: We remain committed to introducing reforms that improve transparency in relation to the Mobile Homes Act 1983. We intend to consult on initial proposals with key stakeholder groups in April before carrying out a public consultation.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department has spent on publicising the  (a) Mortgage Rescue Scheme and  (b) Homeowner Mortgage Support Scheme.

John Healey: No money has been spent specifically on advertising MRS and HMS.
	In September 2009, the Government launched a national campaign to help struggling homeowners take control of their finances and make the most of the support available for them to avoid repossessions and stay in their homes. Press, radio, online and billboard advertisements point people to an advice line and a new website illustrating the practical steps they can take to resolve their mortgage repayment worries, as well as contacts for the wide range of support available, including targeted schemes such as Mortgage Rescue and Homeowners Mortgage Support.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many households received an offer on their property under the Mortgage Rescue Scheme in each local authority area in each of the last 12 months; and how many such offers were subsequently accepted by the homeowner.

John Healey: We have acted rapidly to put in place a range of help and support for households struggling with their mortgage at every stage, and launched a campaign to ensure households have clear information about the help available.
	Mortgage rescue scheme summary monitoring statistics are published on a quarterly basis on the Department's website. Figures can be accessed using the following link:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/mortgagerescuestatistics
	Quarterly figures reported by local authorities from January to December 2009 are provided in a table which has been placed in the Library.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the Mortgage Rescue Scheme monitoring statistics published by his Department on 12 November 2009, how many of the 92 offers accepted under the scheme have been completed.

John Healey: Ninety two.

New Deal for Communities

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been spent by the New Deal for Communities programme since its inception; and what estimate he has made of the number of people assisted by the programme.  [Official Report, 12 March 2010, Vol. 507, c. 14MC.]

Rosie Winterton: Between 2000-01 and 2007-08 (the last year for which audited accounts are available) NDC Partnerships reported that they have spent £1,559 million in grant funding. The latest figures available estimate that there were 797,100 people living in NDC areas in 2007.
	 Note:
	Population figures from: Sheffield Hallam University's Centre for Regional and Economic and Social Research.

Non-Domestic Rates: Empty Property

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment has been made of the merits of extending the current empty property rate relief scheme beyond April 2010.

Barbara Follett: An impact assessment will be published shortly alongside the statutory instrument that will extend the empty property rate relief exemption threshold.
	Our reforms to empty property relief are principled and right for the long-term. They provide a strong incentive on owners to bring empty property back into use, helping to improve access to premises for businesses and so to exert a downward pressure on commercial rents.
	However, we provided owners with real help to manage short-term pressures in a difficult property market by exempting all empty properties with rateable values up to £15,000 from business rates in 2009-10.
	We have listened to the continued concerns of owners and we are extending the temporary measure for a further 12 months-to cover the whole of 2010-11-and we are uprating the threshold to £18,000 in line with the general movement of property values at revaluation.

Non-Domestic Rates: Empty Property

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how much empty property rate relief has cost the Exchequer since 2007;
	(2)  how much empty property rate relief has cost the Exchequer since April 2009.

Barbara Follett: The amounts of empty property relief granted in 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09 and the amount forecast to be granted in 2009-10 are as follows:
	
		
			  Empty property relief 
			   £ million 
			 2006-07 1,362 
			 2007-08 1,294 
			 2008-09 487 
			 2009-10 570 
		
	
	Data are as reported to Communities and Local Government by all billing authorities in England on the annual National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR) returns.
	The figures given are the net empty property relief granted in that year irrespective of the year to which the empty property relief related. It can also include the repayment of non-domestic rates where empty property relief should have been granted in previous years but was not.
	In 2008-09, the rules governing empty and partly occupied property relief were reformed by the Rating (Empty Properties) Act 2007 and further reforms were introduced for 2009-10.
	Our reforms to empty property relief are principled and right for the long-term. They provide a strong incentive on owners to bring empty property back into use, helping to improve access to premises for businesses and so to exert a downward pressure on commercial rents.
	However, we provided owners with real help to manage short-term pressures in a difficult property market by exempting all empty properties with rateable values up to £15,000 from business rates in 2009-10.
	We have listened to the continued concerns of owners and we are extending the temporary measure for a further 12 months-to cover the whole of 2010-11-and we are uprating the threshold to £18,000 in line with the general movement of property values at revaluation.

Private Rented Housing

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of vulnerable people in each vulnerability group who lived in decent private sector homes in each year since 2002.

Ian Austin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Wright) gave him on 27 March 2009,  Official Report, column 789W.

Private Rented Housing: Homelessness

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many private sector properties were leased by  (a) local authorities and  (b) housing associations in order to house homeless households in 2008-09.

Ian Austin: Use of accommodation with shared facilities has declined over recent years, largely through reduced bed and breakfast usage. Within the last 10 years, bed and breakfast style accommodation use peaked during 2002, when 16 per cent. of households were in this form of temporary accommodation, compared to 4 per cent. at the end of March 2009. The proportion of self-contained accommodation has increased over this period; in particular private sector accommodation leased short-term by local authorities or registered social landlords, which rose from under 30 per cent. during 2002 to 59 per cent. at the end of March 2009. On 30 March 2009, there were 37,450 households in private sector temporary accommodation leased short-term by local authorities and registered social landlords, of which 25,750 households were in accommodation leased by a local authority and 11,700 households were in accommodation leased or managed by a registered social landlord.

Safer Stronger Communities Fund

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been spent on  (a) programmes,  (b) staffing,  (c) administration and  (d) publicity by the Safer and Stronger Communities Fund; and what estimate he has made of the number of people assisted by the fund.

Rosie Winterton: The Safer and Stronger Communities Fund is allocated to local authorities through area-based grant. For the current spending period, £51.967 million was allocated in 2008-09 and £30.909 million in 2009-10, with an indicative allocation of £4.893 million in 2010-11. The SSCF is a non ring-fenced fund and local authorities have flexibility over how it is spent. It is therefore not possible to break down spend into programmes, staffing, administration and publicity.

Supporting People Programme

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been spent on  (a) staffing,  (b) administration and  (c) publicity for the Supporting People programme.

Barbara Follett: Communities and Local Government provide local authorities with administration grant as a contribution towards the costs of managing the programme at a local level but do not require authorities to provide details of actual expenditure on staffing, administration or publicity for the Supporting People programme.
	It is possible that some local authorities do not record these sorts of expenditure for their Supporting People grants specifically. Communities and Local Government would not be able to provide this information without a disproportionate amount of effort, and for those local authorities who do not record this type of expenditure even a disproportionate amount of effort would not yield any results.

Supporting People Programme

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been spent on the Supporting People programme; and how many people have received assistance under the programme since its inception.

Barbara Follett: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  Supporting People household unit and spend information 
			  Financial year:  2003-04( 1)  2004-05( 2)  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Annual spend (£) 1,814,096,410 1,804,997,200 1,681,607,275 1,642,961,644 1,627,573,423 1,640,497,680 
			 Household unit available 1,232,889 927,774 1,038,595 1,064,178 1,068,994 1,083,406 
		
	
	The household unit figures provided represent a snapshot of the capacity of Supporting People services (measured in households) at a particular point in time; in this instance as at 31 March each year, to correspond with the collection of spend data. It should be noted that household unit information is not representative of the number of households who have actually received support during the quarter or year.

Working Neighbourhoods Fund

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been spent on  (a) staffing,  (b) administration and  (c) publicity for the Working Neighbourhoods Fund.

Rosie Winterton: As a locally managed fund, central Government do not hold this information.
	£1.52 billion has been allocated to the Working Neighbourhoods Fund for the period 2008-11. It is allocated to local authorities with high rates of worklessness, thereby giving them the flexibility to respond to local circumstances when tackling worklessness and promoting enterprise.

Working Neighbourhoods Fund

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been spent on the Working Neighbourhoods Fund; and how many people have received assistance from the funds.

Rosie Winterton: £1.52 billion has been allocated to the Working Neighbourhoods Fund for the period 2008-11. It is allocated to local authorities with high rates of worklessness, thereby giving them the flexibility to respond to local circumstances when tackling worklessness and promoting enterprise.
	As a locally managed fund, central Government do not hold information on the number of people assisted.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Apprentices: East Sussex

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many small and medium-sized businesses in  (a) Lewes constituency and  (b) East Sussex are employing apprentices.

Kevin Brennan: Record numbers of people are taking up and achieving an apprenticeship. Table 1 shows the number of apprenticeship starts in Lewes parliamentary constituency, East Sussex and Brighton and Hove local authorities.
	
		
			  Table 1: Apprenticeship starts, Lewes parliamentary constituency, East Sussex and Brighton and Hove local authorities (2003/04 to 2008/09) 
			   2003/04  2004/05  2005/06  2006/07  2007/08  2008/09 
			 Lewes parliamentary constituency 240 240 230 210 280 280 
			 East Sussex local authority 1,500 1,500 1,400 1,400 1,800 2,000 
			 Brighton and Hove local authority 600 700 700 600 700 800 
			  Notes: 1. Parliamentary constituency volumes are rounded to the nearest 10. Local authority figures are rounded to the nearest 100. 2. Parliamentary constituency and local authority are based upon the home postcode of the learner. 3. Information is not currently available on the size of the employer for apprentices. For the 2009/10 academic year, this information will become available on the ILR when a unique employer identifier will have to be provided by all employers of apprentices.  Source: WBL/ER Individualised Learner Record 
		
	
	We can provide an estimate of the size of employers, nationally, that offer and have recruited apprentices from the National Employers Skills Survey (NESS). These data are based on repeated surveys of up to 79,000 employers across all business sectors in England. Table 2 shows information from the published 2007 National Employer Skills survey(1) on the number of organisations that had any staff undertaking an apprenticeship in the 12 months prior to interview, by size of employer.
	
		
			  Table 2: Percentage of employers that had any staff undertaking an apprenticeship over the previous 12 months (NESS 2007) 
			   Percentage 
			 All employers 8 
			  Number of employees of employer  
			 2-4 5 
			 5-24 10 
			 25-99 15 
			 100-199 18 
			 200-499 25 
			 500+ 33 
			 (1) http://readingroom.lsc.gov.uk/lsc/National/nat-nessurvey2007mainreport-may08.pdf accessed on 4 February 2010.

Apprentices: Feltham

Alan Keen: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many modern apprenticeships have been started in Feltham and Heston constituency since 1997.

Kevin Brennan: Table 1 shows the number of apprenticeship starts in Feltham and Heston parliamentary constituency from 2003/04 onwards, the earliest year for which comparable data are available.
	
		
			  Table 1: Apprenticeship programme starts for Feltham and Heston parliamentary constituency, 2003/04 to 2008/09 
			  Academic year  Number of starts 
			 2003/04 280 
			 2004/05 260 
			 2005/06 230 
			 2006/07 370 
			 2007/08 350 
			 2008/09 360 
			  Notes:  1. Figures for Feltham and Heston parliamentary constituency are rounded to the nearest 10.  2. Figures are based upon home postcode of the learner.  3. Figures include apprenticeship, advanced apprenticeships and higher level apprenticeships.   Source:  Individualised Learner Record. 
		
	
	Information on the number of apprenticeship starts by parliamentary constituency, local authority, Government office region and for England is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 17 December, and re-issued on 21 January to include provisional national estimates of the number of apprenticeship starts and achievements in the first quarter of 2009/10:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/sfrdec09

Apprentices: Hemsworth

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many modern apprenticeships have been started in Hemsworth since 1997.

Kevin Brennan: The following table 1 shows the number of Apprenticeship starts in Hemsworth parliamentary constituency from 2003/04 onwards, the earliest year for which comparable data is available.
	
		
			  Table 1: Apprenticeship programme starts for Hemsworth parliamentary constituency, 2003/04 to 2008/09 
			  Academic year  Number of starts 
			 2003/04 390 
			 2004/05 390 
			 2005/06 300 
			 2006/07 380 
			 2007/08 390 
			 2008/09 450 
			  Notes: 1. Figures for Hemsworth parliamentary constituency are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Figures are based upon home postcode of the learner. 3. Figures include Apprenticeship, Advanced Apprenticeships and Higher Level Apprenticeships.  Source: Individualised Learner Record 
		
	
	Information on the number of Apprenticeship starts by parliamentary constituency, local authority, government office region and for England is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 17 December, and re-issued on 21 January to include provisional national estimates of the number of apprenticeship starts and achievements in the first quarter of 2009/10:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/sfrdec09

Bankruptcy: Sussex

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many bankruptcies of  (a) individuals in each age group resident in and  (b) businesses based in (i) Lewes constituency and (ii) East Sussex there were in each of the last five years.

Ian Lucas: Figures for bankrupts in East Sussex and Lewes constituency by age group for the last five years are shown in Tables 1 and 2 below.
	
		
			  Table 1: Bankruptcies in Lewes( 1) 
			   Age group( 2) 
			   Under 25  25-34  35-44  45-54  55-64  65+  Unknown 
			 2004 2 17 18 17 6 0 4 
			 2005 7 22 17 19 12 3 4 
			 2006 6 28 39 23 10 4 9 
			 2007 4 22 24 29 15 6 11 
			 2008 1 13 25 16 10 3 16 
			 (1) Where bankrupt has provided a valid postcode (from 94.5 per cent. in 2004 to 96.9 per cent. in 2008). (2) Where bankrupt has provided a valid date of birth (from 92.3 per cent. in 2004 to 93.4 per cent. in 2008). 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Bankruptcies in East Sussex( 1) 
			   Age group - 
			   Under 25  25-34  35-44  45-54  55-64  65+  Unknown 
			 2004 26 107 126 102 52 9 41 
			 2005 32 152 180 125 80 22 53 
			 2006 43 179 238 143 93 26 41 
			 2007 27 151 217 141 102 34 53 
			 2008 26 146 194 152 64 36 79 
			 (1 )Where bankrupt has provided a valid postcode (from 94.5 per cent. in 2004 to 96.9 per cent. in 2008) (2) Where bankrupt has provided a valid date of birth (from 92.3 per cent. in 2004 to 93.4 per cent. in 2008). 
		
	
	Self-employed traders may be declared bankrupt (or enter into an individual voluntary arrangement [IVA]), however, registered companies are the subject of liquidation (compulsory liquidation or creditors voluntary liquidation (CVL)).
	Table 3 shows the number of self employed traders who were declared bankrupt in each of the last five years.
	
		
			  Table 3: Bankruptcies amongst sole traders in Lewes and East Sussex 
			   Area( 1) 
			  Year( 2)  Lewes  East Sussex 
			 2004 22 132 
			 2005 14 144 
			 2006 33 154 
			 2007 20 140 
			 2008 28 138 
			 (1) Where bankrupt has provided a valid postcode (from 94.5 per cent. in 2004 to 96.9 per cent. in 2008). (2) Figures from October 2006 are compiled on a different basis and are not comparable to earlier figures. 
		
	
	Regional figures for 2009 are not currently available for bankruptcies, as they are compiled on an annual basis. They should be available later in 2010.
	Statistics covering corporate insolvencies, including liquidation, are not currently available at a sub-national level within England and Wales.

Business: Government Assistance

David Mundell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many applications  (a) in total and  (b) from businesses registered in Scotland for loans under the Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme have been (i) made and (ii) granted.

Rosie Winterton: Under the Enterprise Finance Guarantee, as of 27 January 2010, over £1.13 billion of eligible applications from over 10,000 businesses have been granted, are being processed or assessed. Of these, 7,792 businesses have been offered loans totalling £794.71 million.
	In Scotland, £86.92 million of eligible applications from 686 businesses have been granted, are being processed or assessed. Of these, 544 businesses have been offered loans totalling £70.69 million.
	Businesses may apply for a loan from any of the participating lenders who will assess which form of lending, including the Enterprise Finance Guarantee, is most appropriate. We do not hold figures for those businesses which are instead offered a normal commercial loan, or are rejected for failing to meet the lenders' normal commercial criteria.

Business: Government Assistance

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department and its predecessors have taken to support small businesses in Hemsworth since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: Since 1997 the Government have implemented a wide range of measures to support business, including small and medium-sized businesses. Statistical information on these measures is not available at constituency level. Statistical information has been provided at the Wakefield local authority level where available. The principal measures are as follows.
	In 1998, the Government set up the Regional Development Agency, Yorkshire Forward, to deliver a joined-up approach to economic development in the region. In support of its objective of promoting business efficiency, investment and competitiveness Yorkshire Forward has provided grants for businesses through the Selective Finance for Investment (SFI) scheme, which started in April 2004, and its successor the Grants for Business Investment (GBI) scheme, which started in October 2008. Yorkshire Forward has made 27 SFI and GBI grant offers to businesses in Wakefield totalling £3.2 million, creating or safeguarding 355 jobs. Yorkshire Forward has also provided grants to support research and development by small and medium sized businesses, through the SMART scheme and its successor, the Grants for Research and Development scheme. Since 2000, Yorkshire Forward has offered 25 research and development grants totalling £1.5 million to small and medium sized businesses in Wakefield.
	Since 2004, Business Link Yorkshire has been the single contact point for all publicly funded support available to businesses in Yorkshire and The Humber. This has made it easier for businesses to access information, advice and support on issues including business regulation, best practice, marketing, innovation, financial support and help with exporting. For example in 2009/10 to date, Business Link Yorkshire has helped 2,578 businesses in the Wakefield area and 913 individuals thinking of starting a business. As part of the Government's Real Help Now package we are providing more help for businesses to survive during the current economic conditions. Since October 2008 this has included a free Business Link health check which can be a useful starting point for identifying further business support tailored to the needs of individual companies. To date Business Link Yorkshire has arranged 548 health checks for small and medium sized businesses in Wakefield. In addition, the Yorkshire Forward funded Financial Health Check, which offers a grant of £2,000 for accountants to carry out a full review, has benefited 63 businesses in Wakefield.
	Small and medium sized manufacturing businesses in Wakefield can also benefit from the Yorkshire and Humber Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), which was set up by BERR in 2002 to provide practical hands-on support to business in all aspects of manufacturing. In 2009 the Yorkshire and Humber MAS carried out over 1,000 manufacturing reviews and over 340 improvement projects, creating or safeguarding over 3,100 jobs, with an estimated total potential increase in GVA of £30.3 million. Figures at local level are not available.
	Under the European Regional Development Funded Objective 2 programme between 2000 and 2008 over £93 million was provided to support small and medium enterprises in the Objective 2 areas in Yorkshire and the Humber, which included Wakefield. Figures at local level are not available.
	Details of the wide range of Government funded support for business available are on the Real Help Now website
	www.realhelpnow.gov.uk

Business: Government Assistance

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the criteria are for the award of a loan to a company under the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme.

Rosie Winterton: There are three main criteria for a business being offered an EFG loan application:
	The business meeting the lender's normal commercial criteria in relation to the viability of the business and serviceability of the loan. This judgment will vary according to the lender concerned.
	The lender determining that use of EFG, rather than a normal commercial loan, is necessary because of no or insufficient security available on the part of the business.
	The business meeting the basic EFG eligibility criteria
	Each lender has access to the EFG web portal through which they administer the EFG eligibility criteria. The main EFG eligibility criteria, with respect to the size of loan, purpose of loan, turnover size, business sector etc, is detailed on the BIS website:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/enterprise/finance/efc/page37607.html

Business: Snow and Ice

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost to business in  (a) Chorley,  (b) Lancashire and  (c) the UK of the adverse weather conditions of December 2009 and January 2010.

Rosie Winterton: There are no official estimates at this early stage of local, regional or national cost to business as a result of the adverse weather but there are indications that some businesses lost trade due to customers being unable to travel or lost output due to staff being unable to attend work. We will continue to monitor the situation and estimates as these become available.

Cerebrospinal: Multiple Sclerosis

David Anderson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will  (a) commission and  (b) evaluate research into the relationship between chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency and multiple sclerosis.

David Lammy: The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research. The MRC is an independent body which receives its grant in aid from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The MRC spent £3.4 million on research into multiple sclerosis in 2008-09, but is not currently funding any research specifically into chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI).
	The MRC provides funding for research through a range of grants and personal awards to scientists in universities, medical schools and other research institutes but does not normally commission research to address specific questions.
	Applications are generally submitted by the scientific community in 'response mode' and the MRC always welcomes high quality applications for support into any aspect of human health. The primary considerations in funding decisions are research excellence and importance to health; however, high quality proposals in areas of particular strategic importance may be given priority in competition for funds.
	The MRC provides opportunities for additional clinical research training fellowships through collaborations with Royal Colleges and charity funders including the MRC/Multiple Sclerosis Society Clinical Research Training Fellowships. One fellowship per year is available under this scheme, aimed at researchers who are involved in treating patients and who wish to pursue research into understanding and treatment of multiple sclerosis.
	Details of MRC's currently funded research can be found in the MRC research portfolio which is accessible on the MRC website at:
	http://www.mrc.ac.uk/ResearchPortfolio/index.htm

Companies: Birmingham

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many mergers of companies have taken place in Birmingham in each of the last three years.

Kevin Brennan: Information relating to mergers is not collected at this level of detail. The Office of National Statistics (ONS) is responsible for collecting information involving mergers and acquisitions by UK companies abroad and in the UK, and mergers and acquisitions by foreign companies in the UK. The ONS publishes a quarterly statistical bulletin and a Tri-annual Mini review of mergers and acquisitions.
	Its latest Quarterly Bulletin (3rd Quarter 2009) can be found at the following link:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/ma1209.pdf
	and its last Tri-annual Mini review published in 2008 can be found at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_commerce/2008-Mini-Triennial-M-A.pdf

Construction: Government Assistance

Bob Spink: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many construction companies in  (a) Essex and  (b) Castle Point have received Government assistance in the last three years.

Ian Lucas: holding answer 10 February 2010
	Business Link East, which is managed by the East of England Development Agency, has supported  (a) 2,623 construction companies in Essex and  (b) 136 construction companies in Castle Point in the last three years.

Construction: Government Assistance

Bob Spink: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to take steps to increase the level of liquidity in the construction industry; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Lucas: holding answer 10 February 2010
	The Government have been increasing liquidity in construction by helping smaller and medium-sized firms, which dominate the industry, through Real Help for Business. This package of measures aims to facilitate bank lending to smaller and medium-sized firms and will continue to do so into the financial year 2010-11. In addition, in the December 2009 Pre-Budget Report the Government announced the creation of a Growth Capital Fund that will target SMEs for which traditional bank finance is either inappropriate or unavailable.

Departmental Information Officers

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many staff in his Department and its agencies  (a) have the status of embedded communicators and  (b) are members of the Government Communications Network but are not listed in the Central Office of Information White Book.

Patrick McFadden: At the most recent assessment of those embedded, in October 2009, there were 18 embedded communicators in BIS. Embedded communicators are defined as staff employed primarily in a communications role based in policy or delivery units outside of the central communications function.
	It is not possible to provide the number of embedded communicators who are members of the Government Communications Network (GCN) but not listed in the White Book as the Department does not hold GCN membership data.
	I have approached the Chief Executives of the Insolvency Service, Companies House, the National Measurement Office and the Intellectual Property Office and they will respond to the hon. Member directly.
	 Letter from Peter Mason, dated 12 February 2010:
	I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 29 January 2010, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, asking how many staff (a) have the status of embedded communicators and (b) are members of the Government Communications Network but are not listed in the Central Office of Information White Book.
	a) The National Measurement Office, following a recent restructure, has one part time member of staff (0.6 FTE) who we believe would be regarded as an embedded communicator in that she is employed primarily in a communications role based in the enforcement team of the Agency. This role is based outside of the central communications team.
	b) The National Measurement Office has no staff who are members of the Government Communications Network.
	 Letter from Gareth Jones, dated 12 February 2010:
	I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 29 January 2010, UIN 315168 to the Minister of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	Companies House has five staff who are members of the Government Communication Network, and classed as Government communicators. The two members with responsibility for dealing with press enquiries are listed in the Central Office of Information White Book, the other three are not.
	 Letter from Sean Dennehey, dated 2 February 2010:
	I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 29 January 2010, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The Intellectual Property Office does not have any staff who have the status of embedded communicators.
	 Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 18 February 2010:
	The Minister of State, for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has asked me to reply to your question how many staff in his Department and its agencies (a) have the status of embedded communicators and (b) are members of the Government Communications Network but are not listed in the Central Office of Information White Book.
	The Insolvency Service has 7 embedded communicators, 2 of whom are not direct employees but are Agency staff. There are no staff that are members of the Government Communications Network but are not listed in the Central Office of Information White Book.

Departmental Official Hospitality

John Mason: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many receptions he has hosted for representatives of print and broadcast media since 3 October 2008; and how many he plans to host in 2010.

Stephen Timms: I have not hosted any such receptions. However, since October 2008:
	My Noble Friend, the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communications, Technology and Broadcasting hosted a digital Britain summit in April 2009 at the British Library, drawing attendees from the print, broadcast and technology communities. The key note speech was given by the Prime Minister.
	My right hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Higher Education and Intellectual Property hosted a lunch with educational journalists in November 2008.
	There are no current plans to host any such receptions in 2010.

Departmental Video Conferencing

Gregory Barker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the cost was of the technical support team required to run the videoconferencing and telepresence facilities in Kingsgate House in the last 12 months.

Patrick McFadden: Technical support for the videoconferencing and telepresence facilities is currently provided to the Department via a shared services agreement with the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). The costs for ICT and Information Management services are in fact broken down in a way that relates to input categories, for example staff costs, licences, etc rather than products that are supported.
	However, for 2009-10 the shared services charges identified against videoconferencing and telepresence from DCSF will be £37,700 and will cover overall delivery of the services and support.

Digital Broadcasting: Radio

Bob Russell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the proportion of radio microphones and other programme-making and special events technologies which will need to be replaced with new equipment as a consequence of the clearance of the digital dividend spectrum; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: We have not estimated the proportion of microphones (both channel 69 and interleaved spectrum) or other PMSE equipment which will be affected by the clearance.
	However, Ofcom have estimated that 95 per cent. of all radio microphones tune to channel 69 and will therefore be affected by the clearance.

Digital Broadcasting: Radio

Bob Russell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to announce his decision on the  (a) criteria for compensation eligibility and  (b) allocation of funding to be provided to those in the programme-making and special events sector who are affected by the clearance of the digital dividend spectrum.

Stephen Timms: Ofcom are re-evaluating their initial assumptions and eligibility criteria in light of responses to their second consultation on this issue. When this work is completed, Government will agree with Ofcom an appropriate funding allocation.

Digital Broadcasting: Radio

Bob Russell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has made a recent estimate of the number of jobs which depend  (a) directly and  (b) indirectly on the use of radio microphones and other programme-making and special events technologies.

Stephen Timms: No such estimates have been made. However, the Department is aware of the contribution that the programme-making and special events (PMSE) industry makes to the UK economy, and is carefully considering how they will be relocated from channel 69 to channel 38.

Employment Agencies: EU Law

Mark Oaten: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what consideration his Department has given to the effect on the nature of ad hoc assignments of temporary workers of the Agency Worker Regulations.

Patrick McFadden: We carefully considered representations from stakeholders on the issue of ad hoc assignments. However, we concluded that it would be wrong for agency workers to be deprived of equal treatment rights just because they do not comply with 'standard' work patterns, particularly since irregular agency assignments are prevalent in lower-paid sectors. We were also concerned about the risk of any special provision on the point would further complicate the regulations, and could be exploited by the unscrupulous in order to deprive workers of equal treatment rights.

Employment Agencies: EU Law

Mark Oaten: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what representations he has  (a) sought and  (b) received from representatives of the agency work industry on the drafting of the guidance to the Agency Worker Regulations.

Patrick McFadden: The Agency Workers Regulations 2010 were laid before Parliament on 21 January 2010, coming into force on 1 October 2011. Accompanying guidance will be drawn up and published in advance of the regulations coming into force. The important role this guidance will play has been one of the subjects discussed with not only representatives of the agency work industry but also other stakeholders during recent consultations preceding the laying of the regulations. We will of course wish to have further discussions with interested parties on the drafting of this guidance in due course.

Employment Agencies: EU Law

Mark Oaten: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has further to consult representatives of the agency work industry prior to the implementation of the Agency Worker Regulations.

Patrick McFadden: The last year saw an intensive process of consultation on the Government's proposals to implement the European Agency Workers Directive. There were more than 300 responses to the original consultation on policy proposals and almost 100 responses to the second on the draft regulations. In addition, Ministers and officials held frequent meetings with a wide variety of interested parties, including those representing the agency work industry.
	Accompanying guidance will be drawn up and published in advance of the regulations coming into force. We will seek the views of representatives of the agency work industry and other interested parties on the drafting of this guidance in due course.

Employment Agencies: EU Law

Mark Oaten: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what impact assessment his Department has undertaken of the Agency Worker Regulations in relation to the  (a) complexity of bonus arrangements,  (b) cost of tracking ad hoc assignments and  (c) transferral of indemnity from the end-user to the agency.

Patrick McFadden: We have addressed these issues in the Government responses to the two consultation exercises on implementation of the Agency Workers Regulations 2010-the relevant documents have been placed in the Libraries of the House and are available on the BIS website. These include a comprehensive impact assessment.
	On bonuses, we are aware of the concerns of hirers, in particular the implications of integrating agency workers into appraisal systems for permanent staff. The regulations do not require agency workers to be integrated into these systems-hirers can adopt simpler systems such as existing feedback arrangements that many agencies already have in place. It is also by no means the case that all bonus payments will come within the scope of equal treatment rights-they will not do so, for instance, if not directly attributable to the individual worker's contribution or if they would not have been payable if the same worker had been recruited directly to do the same job (if, say, there is a qualifying period before a bonus is payable). Guidance will address these issues further.
	We carefully considered representations from stakeholders on the issue of ad hoc assignments. However, we concluded that it would be wrong for agency workers to be deprived of equal treatment rights just because they do not comply with 'standard' work patterns, particularly since irregular agency assignments are prevalent in lower-paid sectors. We were also concerned about the risk of any special provision on the point would further complicate the regulations, and could be exploited by the unscrupulous in order to deprive workers of equal treatment rights.
	We considered that it would be inappropriate for the regulations to make provision on the issue of indemnities since to do so would amount to an inappropriate intervention in private commercial arrangements, and the directive includes no requirements in this area.

Exports: Morocco

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the monetary value was of UK exports to Morocco in  (a) 2008 and  (b) 2009.

Ian Lucas: UK exports of goods to Morocco were worth £484 million in 2008 and £299 million in 2009 on an Overseas Trade Statistics basis.
	UK exports of services to Morocco were worth £77 million in 2008 on a Balance of Payments basis. Data for 2009 are due to be published at the end of July in the UK Balance of Payments Pink Book.

Exports: Saudi Arabia

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the monetary value was of UK exports to Saudi Arabia in  (a) 2008 and  (b) 2009.

Ian Lucas: UK exports of goods to Saudi Arabia were worth £2,191 million in 2008 and £2,334 million in 2009 on a Balance of Payments basis.
	UK exports of services to Saudi Arabia were worth £2,633 million in 2008 on a Balance of Payments basis. Data for 2009 are due to be published at the end of July in the UK Balance of Payments Pink Book.

Graduates: Work Experience

David Willetts: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many unique visitors there have been to the  (a) Graduate Talent Pool and  (b) Our future, its in our hands website in each month since each was created.

David Lammy: The Department do not have monthly figures for the number of unique visits to the Graduate Talent Pool website. But the following information is available:
	Total unique visitors between 19 April and 8 December to the Employer site were: 55,012
	Total unique visitors between 30th June and 8th December to the Graduate site were: 104,403
	In addition the figures for total visits to the employer and graduate sites are as follows:
	
		
			   Employer site  Graduate site 
			 1-28 July 6109 - 
			 29 July-l September 21291 46444 
			 2 September-27 September 15282 44260 
			 28 September-3 November 10305 37982 
			 4 November-l December 9275 30334 
		
	
	The Our future. Its in our hands website is owned and managed by the Learning and Skills Council. I have asked the Chief Executive of the Learning and Skills Council to write to the hon. Member separately to provide an answer to that part of the question.
	 Letter from Geoff Russell, dated 12 February 2010:
	The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, has asked me to respond to your Parliamentary Question 627 that asked;
	how many unique visitors there have been (a) to the Graduate Talent Pool and (b) Our future, its in our hands websites in each month since each was created.
	The following table contains web traffic information for the In Our Hands website, from 17 May 2009 to 14 December 2009. Unfortunately, due to the time constraints in which the response is required, further historical data cannot be obtained.
	The In Our hands website was established in summer 2007 to serve a range of audiences interested in increasing their skill levels. The two main audiences are:
	Individuals, who are targeted through marketing communications, and
	Businesses, which are encouraged to make the Skills Pledge.
	The purpose of the site was to act as a central repository for information relevant to the target audiences listed above. The site was promoted to individuals during key times of the year, summer and early spring, which are key enrolment times for post 16 providers. Since the integration of the Careers Advice Service with the Learning and Skills Council in 2008, the Careers Advice Service website and telephone helpline have become the main call to action in promotional materials targeting individuals.
	As part of the Transformational Government strategy, this website has been identified by the Cabinet Office for convergence and closure (reference X1668).
	Although the deadline for closure is March 2011, the LSC is aiming to have completed the necessary convergence work by the end of March 2010.
	Information aimed at individuals has already been relocated in the Careers Advice Service site, which will subsequently become part of the Adult Advancement and Careers Service, in August 2010. Information and services for Business (i.e. Skills Pledge) will become part of the Business Link website.
	
		
			  Visits trend 
			  Month  Visits  Percentage visits 
			 January 0 0 
			 February 0 0 
			 March 0 0 
			 April 0 0 
			 May 3,837 5 
			 June 7,895 10 
			 July 13,768 18 
			 August 6,727 9 
			 September 18,068 23 
			 October 16,044 21 
			 November 7,902 10 
			 December 3,738 5 
			 Total 77,979 100.00 
			  Notes:  Time interval (hour, day, etc.) A one-year report displays monthly time increments. A one-quarter report displays weekly time increments. A one-month report or a one-week report displays daily time increments. A daily report displays hourly time increments. An hour-long interval marked 12:00, for example, includes all activity between 12:00 and 12:59.  Visits Number of visits to your site during the specified time interval. A visit is a series of actions that begins when a visitor views their first page from the server, and ends when the visitor leaves the site or remains idle beyond the idle-time limit. The default idle-time limit is thirty minutes. This time limit can be changed by the system administrator.  Percentage Percentage of visits to your site during the specified time interval compared with all visits to our site during the report period.

Higher Education: Finance

Rob Marris: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion on average of the budgets of universities in England was spent on  (a) teaching undergraduates,  (b) teaching graduates,  (c) libraries,  (d) student services,  (e) non-sponsored research,  (f) sponsored research and  (g) administration in (i) 2000-01, (ii) 2004-05 and (iii) 2008-09.

David Lammy: The information is not available in the breakdown requested. Information on higher education income and expenditure is collected in the Higher Education Statistics Authority (HESA) Finance Record.
	Information is provided in the following table. The information provided is the nearest match to the categories outlined above. The table refers to the expenditure of English higher education institutions rather than budget. Further explanations of how the table is broken down are in the footnotes to the table. Figures for 2008/09 are not yet available so the most recent academic year is used (2007/08.)
	
		
			  Expenditure of English HEIs, 2000/01,2004/05 and 2007/08 
			   Percentage 
			  2000/01  
			 Academic staff costs 25.3 
			 Academic services 7.3 
			 Research grants and contracts 14.1 
			 Staff and student facilities 2.0 
			 Other Admin and central services 10.8 
			 Other 40.4 
			 Total 100.0 
			   
			  2004/05  
			 Academic staff costs 25.0 
			 Academic services 7.6 
			 Research grants and contracts 13.5 
			 Staff and student facilities 2.4 
			 Other Admin and central services 11.3 
			 Other 40.2 
			 Total 100.0 
			   
			  2007/08  
			 Academic staff costs 23.8 
			 Academic services 7.6 
			 Research grants and contracts 13.1 
			 Staff and student facilities 2.6 
			 Other Admin and central services 11.9 
			 Other 41.0 
			 Total 100.0 
			  Notes: 1. 'Academic staff costs' include all departmental academic staff, so this will cover research staff as well as teaching staff. 2 'Academic services' includes money spent on libraries, but also includes costs to HEIs such as central computers, museums, galleries and observatories which are not included in Academic departmental costs. 3. It is not possible to split research expenditure by non-sponsored and sponsored research, 'Research grants and contracts' refers to sponsored research. 4. 'Staff and student facilities' is included within the main administration and central services category, and covers expenditure of facilities such as careers advisory services, accommodation services, health services, athletic and sporting facilities (except maintenance) and crèches. 5. 'Other admin and central services' refers to admin and central services other than staff and student facilities. 6. 'Other' refers to all expenditure not included in the table including other academic department staff costs, premises, residences and catering and other expenditure not covered by the categories in the finance record table. Source: HESA Resources of Higher Education Institutions, 2000/01, 2004/05, 2007/08

Higher Education: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of the Higher Education Funding Council for England teaching budget was allocated to  (a) full-time and  (b) part-time students in the latest year for which information is available.

David Lammy: The Funding Council's recurrent grant for teaching in 2009/10 can be split as follows: 77 per cent. for full-time students (including sandwich year out), 16 per cent. for part time and 7 per cent. not allocated according to student numbers. Grant for part-time students is allocated in terms of their full-time equivalence, reflecting their relative level of activity, rather than on a headcount basis.

Higher Education: Overseas Students

Mark Oaten: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the likely effects on the economy of an increase in the minimum level qualification for which non-EU students may come to the UK for study.

Kevin Brennan: In a written ministerial statement on 10 February 2010 my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced the conclusions of a joint UKBA/BIS review of tier 4 of the points-based system (student visas). This includes plans to limit the delivery of National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level 3 courses to the new category of highly-trusted sponsor (HTS). UKBA will develop a full impact assessment on the review's recommendations as part of the process of implementation.

Higher Education: Salford

Hazel Blears: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many residents of Salford constituency have attended university in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: The latest figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency are shown in the table. Figures for 2009/10 academic year will be available in January 2011. Enrolments cover students on all years of study.
	
		
			  Enrolments( 1)  from Salford Parliamentary constituency( 2)  UK  higher education i nstitutions  a cademic years 1997/98 to 2008/09 
			  Academic year  Enrolments 
			 1997/1998 1,070 
			 1998/1999 1,135 
			 1999/2000 1,115 
			 2000/2001 1,145 
			 2001/2002 1,275 
			 2002/2003 1,355 
			 2003/2004 1,475 
			 2004/2005 1,525 
			 2005/2006 1,610 
			 2006/2007 1,510 
			 2007/2008 1,415 
			 2008/2009 1,545 
			 (1) Covers enrolments on all modes and levels of study. (2) The table does not include enrolments where the constituency of the student cannot be established due to missing or invalid postcode information.  Notes:  Figures are based on a snapshot as at 1 December to maintain consistency across the time series and have been rounded to the nearest five.  Source:  Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Higher Education: Stroud

David Drew: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what proportion of 18 to 22 year olds exclusively resident in Stroud constituency were studying at university in  (a) 1997 and  (b) on the latest date for which figures are available;
	(2)  what proportion of 18 year olds in Stroud constituency participated in higher education in 2008-09.

David Lammy: The Department does not collect data on the number of residents in a particular constituency who are not in higher education, which would be necessary to calculate a proportion. It is, therefore, not possible to calculate the proportion of 18 to 22 year olds resident in Stroud constituency who were studying at university. The numbers of 18 to 22 year old enrolments at UK Higher Education Institutions, from Stroud Parliamentary Constituency, are provided as an alternative in the table.
	
		
			  18 to 22 year old enrolments( 1)  from Stroud Parliamentary Constituency( 2) , UK higher education institutions academic years 1997/98 and 2008/09 
			  Age  1997/98  2008/09 
			 18 275 310 
			 19 370 485 
			 20 370 520 
			 21 275 320 
			 22 125 170 
			 Total 1,415 1,805 
			 (1) Covers undergraduate and postgraduate enrolments to full-time and part-time courses. (2) The table does not include enrolments where the constituency of the student cannot be established due to missing or invalid postcode information.  Notes:  Figures are based on snapshot as at 1 December to maintain consistency across academic years and have been rounded to the nearest five.  Source:  Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Higher Education: Student Numbers

Stephen Williams: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students enrolled on their first full-time degree course in the latest year for which figures are available.

David Lammy: Of the 423,455 full-time degree entrants to UK higher education institutions, 6,815 listed a degree as their highest qualification on entry to their 2008-09 degree. This leaves 416,640 entrants who had other qualifications listed. However, some entrants may have previously completed a degree, followed by a postgraduate course. These entrants would not be picked up as their highest qualification on entry would be listed as a postgraduate course, although they had previously studied a degree.

Holiday Leave: Feltham

Alan Keen: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many residents of Feltham and Heston constituency qualify for paid leave entitlements.

Patrick McFadden: All workers resident in Feltham and Heston qualify for paid annual leave entitlements. The statutory minimum as set out in the working time regulations is at least 5.6 weeks.
	Numbers of workers resident in Feltham and Heston are not available, however, there were a total of 53,400 employees who worked in Feltham and Heston (but did not necessarily live there) in 2008, who would qualify for paid annual leave entitlement.

Maternity Leave: Hemsworth

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many and what percentage of women resident in Hemsworth have taken 26 weeks maternity leave since 1997.

Patrick McFadden: The most recent estimates of take-up of maternity leave are based on the DWP Maternity Rights and Mothers' employment decisions in Britain; Survey of Mothers (2007). In 2006, when mothers included in the study went on maternity leave, the statutory entitlement to ordinary maternity leave (OML) was 26 weeks, while mothers who had worked for their employer for a qualifying period of 26 weeks were also entitled to additional maternity leave (AML) of 26 weeks.
	For mothers taking maternity leave in 2006:
	84 per cent. took 26 weeks or more maternity leave;
	35 per cent. took exactly 26 weeks maternity leave;
	46 per cent. of mothers took between 27 and 52 weeks and only 3 per cent. were off for more than 52 weeks; and
	16 per cent. of mothers took less than the statutory minimum entitlement (i.e. 26 weeks in 2006).
	The Department does not collect data on take-up of maternity and paternity leave at constituency level.

Minimum Wage

William McCrea: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of people who have been paid at the national minimum wage rate in the last two years.

Patrick McFadden: Due to rounding in the conversion of payroll data into hourly wage rates in the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) it is likely that a sizeable number of employees earning the NMW are reported in the survey to have a wage rate just above or below this level. This may mean that the estimated number of employees earning exactly at the NMW rate differs from the actual number. In addition, small sample sizes in ASHE for 16 to 17 and 18 to 21-year-olds means the number of job-holders earning a specific wage rate cannot be inferred with sufficient certainty. For these reasons BIS has provided estimates for the number of employees earning a wage at or below the NMW in the UK rather than those paid exactly at the NMW.
	This analysis of the 2009 ASHE indicates that 788,000 employees earned a wage at or below the national minimum wage (NMW) rate in April 2009. The corresponding figure from analysis of the 2008 ASHE is 834,000 employees.
	The estimates include the number of jobs paid below the NMW. These cannot be taken as estimates of underpayment as there are legitimate exemptions in the legislation including some apprentices and those receiving accommodation from their employer.

Minimum Wage

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people aged between 16 and 24 years in  (a) Hemsworth and  (b) Wakefield have been paid at the rate of the minimum wage or above since its introduction.

Patrick McFadden: Data for earnings is not available at the constituency level because of small sample sizes at this level in the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE).
	BIS analysis of the most recent ASHE indicates that a total of 291,000 employees in the Yorkshire and Humber region aged between 16 and 24 years earned a wage rate at or above the level of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) in April 2009.

Minimum Wage: Feltham

Alan Keen: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many of those resident in Feltham and Heston constituency have been paid at the national minimum wage rate since its introduction.

Patrick McFadden: Data for earnings are not available at the constituency level because of small sample sizes at this level in the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE).
	At the regional level it is not possible to infer the number of employees earning exactly at the National Minimum Wage (NMW) with sufficient certainty. However it is possible to estimate the number who were paid at or below the NMW.
	At the Government office region level the most recent figure from BIS analysis of the 2009 ASHE indicates the number of jobholders who were paid at or below the NMW in April 2009 in the London region was 62,000.

Music: Copyright

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment has been made of the likely effects of proposed changes to music licensing legislation on  (a) churches and other religious establishments and  (b) small voluntary organisations in North Cornwall.

David Lammy: The Government did not undertake any region by region assessment and therefore North Cornwall was not considered on an individual basis. However, as part of the consultation process a final impact assessment was commissioned from independent consultants, Europe Economics. This assessment estimated the impact on groups across the UK which would be affected. A shortened and updated form was published on 12 November 2009 with the Government response which was placed in the Library of the House. This contains a weblink to the full Europe Economics impact assessment.
	The exact impact will be determined by the outcome of consultations between Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) and organisations concerned on licence fee levels. However, PPL has agreed to voluntarily exempt music as part of divine worship and domestic/family occasions such as weddings. As part of this process it is essential that PPL work with the third sector to agree reasonable and appropriate tariffs. We value the contribution musical performers make to the economic and cultural success of our country. We have got to make sure that they are rewarded for their efforts so they can continue creating. The Government want to ensure that discussions between PPL and the third sector are facilitated so that the outcome is satisfactory for all concerned. A mutually agreed solution is vital if the needs of both PPL members and the third sector are to be met. I remain confident that this will be possible.

One North East and North East Economic Forum: Public Relations

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what payments the  (a) North East Development Agency and  (b) North East Economic Forum has made to Sovereign Strategy in each of the last three years; for what purposes; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the contract under which such payments have been made.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) One North East, the Regional Development Agency for the North East of England has made one payment to Sovereign Strategy in March 2007 for £23,500.
	This payment was for sponsorship of a conference event dated 17 November 2006 relating to the North East Economic Forum.
	As the payment was in the form of sponsorship, a contract is not applicable.
	 (b) The North East Economic Forum is a separate legal entity independent of Government and therefore I am unable to provide the information.

Overseas Students: Admissions

John Hayes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many foreign students have been refused entry to the UK since 2001; and what the reason for refusal was in each case.

Phil Woolas: I have been asked to reply.
	The requested information is only available from 2004 onwards.
	Since 2004, our records show that 577,993 student applications were refused leave to enter the UK at our visa issuing posts worldwide. A further 8,629 foreign students were refused entry to the UK at the border during the same period.
	The reason for refusal in each case could be obtained by a detailed examination of individual records only at a disproportionate cost so will not be provided.
	These figures have been extracted from locally collated management information, using a live database, which means that it is provisional and may be subject to change.

Post Offices

Peter Luff: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether all Post Office branches hold information for customers on his Department's consultation on financial and banking products available through the Post Office; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: Post Office Limited have informed us that leaflets with details of the consultation on post office banking have been sent to all post offices.

Post Offices

David Drew: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many and what proportion of sub-post offices operate as  (a) a stand-alone business and  (b) one of (i) two, (ii) three and (iii) four or more businesses.

Patrick McFadden: I have asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of Post Office Ltd, to respond directly to the hon. Member and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Offices

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many post offices have closed in  (a) the UK and  (b) Scotland in each year since 1987.

Patrick McFadden: I have asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of Post Office Ltd, to respond directly to the hon. Member and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Offices: Bank Services

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the recommendations of the Consumer Focus report entitled Opportunity Knocks published on 1 January 2010.

Patrick McFadden: The Government welcome the Consumer Focus report entitled Opportunity Knocks. Together with responses to the consultation on post office banking which is currently under way, it will help to inform the further development of banking and financial services available at post offices.

Regional Development Agencies: Offices

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Beckenham of 6 October 2008,  Official Report, column 288W, on regional development agencies: offices, what the address is of each overseas office of each regional development agency; how many staff are employed in each such office; and what the cost to the public purse was of each such office in each of the last three years.

Rosie Winterton: I will place a copy of the details requested in the Libraries of the House.

Strategic Investment Fund

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding from the £200 million allocated to the Strategic Investment Fund in the 2009 Pre-Budget Report has been  (a) allocated and  (b) disbursed to each project in each (i) constituency, (ii) local authority area and (iii) Government Office region.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 9 February 2010
	In allocating the additional £200 million in the 2009 Pre-Budget Report, the Chancellor specified that £50 million would be spent on offshore wind investment, £30 million on low carbon vehicles, £30 million on decarbonisation of the chemicals industry on Teesside, £40 million on other low carbon projects, £5 million for new TSB prize funds in innovative technology and £5 million on enterprise support for service personnel. The money is available to spend only in the financial year 2010-11. This money has not yet been legally committed or disbursed.
	In most cases, the location will be the subject of further competitions, for example through the TSB or the Office of Low Emission Vehicles, where funding is allocated on the basis of open and competitive bids throughout the UK which will be assessed strictly and solely on the basis of merit.

Students: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the cost of  (a) fee loans,  (b) maintenance loans and  (c) maintenance grants for full-time higher education students and (i) fee grants and (ii) maintenance grants for part-time higher education students is expected to be in (A) 2009-10 and (B) 2010-11.

David Lammy: The current estimated provisions for 2009-10 and 2010-11 for England only are:
	
		
			  £million 
			  Programme  2009-10  2010-11 
			 Maintenance Loans (RAB cost) 584 606 
			 Tuition Fee Loans (RAB cost) 722 782 
			 Maintenance Grants 929 1,076 
			 Part-time Support 41 43 
		
	
	As fee grants and maintenance grants are not treated separately for part-time higher education students accounts it is not possible to provide a breakdown of this figure.
	The Resource Accounting and Budgeting (RAB) cost figures represent the cost to the Government, not the cash made available to students for their support, tuition fee or payments made to universities on behalf of students. RAB costs are made up of interest rate subsidy together with the costs of loans that are not repaid as a matter of policy, for example loans that are written off after 25 years, or death.

Students: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the resource cost of  (a) fee loans and  (b) maintenance loans for full-time higher education students in England was in the latest period for which figures are available.

David Lammy: In financial year 2008-09, the resource cost to Government of tuition fee loans was £546 million, and maintenance loans was £574 million for full-time higher education students in England. These costs are made up of interest rate subsidy together with the costs of loans that are not repaid as a matter of policy, for example loans that are written off after 25 years, or death.

Students: Grants

David Drew: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students received non-repayable maintenance grants from Gloucestershire local authority in each of the last five years; and what the average grant received by such students was in each of those years.

David Lammy: The information is as follows:
	
		
			  Grants for maintenance-Gloucestershire( 1) 
			  Academic year  Grant  Applicants  Average (£) 
			 2004/05 HE Grant 960 830 
			 2005/06 HE Grant 1,760 830 
			 2006/07 HE Grant 1,430 850 
			  Maintenance Grant(2) 1,640 1,830 
			 2007/08 HE Grant 830 870 
			  Maintenance Grant(2) 2,940 1,940 
			 2008/09 HE Grant 270 830 
			  Maintenance Grant(2) 4,740 1,970 
			 (1) Approved applicants awarded a full or partial grant. Figures rounded to nearest 10. (2) Maintenance Grant includes Special Support Grant.  Source:  Student Loans Company.

Summertime

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the merits of introducing British Summer Time and Double British Summer Time.

Patrick McFadden: This is a subject on which people have a range of differing views, and in relation to which requirements vary in different parts of the country. While the Government do not propose to change current arrangements, we continue to listen to representations we receive and consider any evidence presented to us.

UK Internet Governance Forum

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will publish the financial reports of the UK Internet Governance Forum for each year since its inception.

Stephen Timms: The UK Internet Governance Forum does not have a budget, its activities being sponsored by various UK stakeholders. It does not prepare annual financial reports.

UK Internet Governance Forum

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills who decided on the membership of the UK Internet Governance Forum; and by what mechanisms members are nominated to that Forum.

Stephen Timms: Participation in the UK Internet Governance Forum is voluntary. Any organisation or individual who wishes to participate in its activities may do so.

UK Internet Governance Forum

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will publish records of the meetings of the executive of the UK Internet Governance Forum.

Stephen Timms: The UK Internet Governance Forum does not have an executive body.

UK Internet Governance Forum

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many meetings the UK Internet Governance Forum has had since its inception.

Stephen Timms: The UK Internet Governance Forum has had five meetings since its launch on 6 March 2008.

UK Internet Governance Forum

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills who the members are of the UK Internet Governance Forum executive committee; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The UK Internet Governance Forum does not have an executive committee. The dot.uk registry, Nominet, takes the lead in organising UK IGF events and its communications with stakeholders (including a website www.ukigf.org.uk) working with other UK private sector stakeholders, BIS, my right hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Alun Michael) as lead parliamentarian, and non-governmental organisations such as NSPCC, APC, Childnet and the Children's Coalition.

UK Internet Governance Forum

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the remit is of the UK Internet Governance Forum.

Stephen Timms: The remit of the UK Internet Governance Forum is:
	(i) to provide a platform for UK stakeholders in the internet, including business, civil society, parliamentarians, Government, academia and users, to consult and prepare for the annual global UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF);
	(ii) for the stakeholders who attended the previous annual global IGF to disseminate outputs and information to non-participants; and
	(iii) to help increase awareness of IGF activities and of the value of participation in the global, multi-stakeholder, non-decision-making IGF.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Children In Care: Missing Persons

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of Baroness Morgan of Drefelin of 7 January 2010,  Official Report, House of Lords, column 119WA, on people trafficking, whether he plans to introduce a central system for the collection of information on children who have gone missing from local authority care.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government do not collect details of individual children who have gone missing from local authority care and we do not plan to collect this information centrally in future. Local authorities have the legal responsibility for safeguarding children in their care and holding a central register would serve no real operational purpose and would not offer value for money as the register would have to be maintained and updated on a daily basis. We do collect information once a year about the number of children who are missing from their agreed placement for 24 hours or more, which we use to develop Government policy and guidance.
	New 'Statutory Guidance on Children who Runaway and go Missing from Home and Care' was issued in July 2009. This requires that local authorities collect information about missing from care incidents. Local Runaway and Missing from Home and Care (RMFHC) protocols will set out the arrangements for sharing this information with the police to make sure that action is taken to locate the child and minimise the likelihood of their going missing in future. Local authorities must identify a senior manager to take responsibility for monitoring compliance with RMFHC protocols. This task will involve authorities maintaining a record of the numbers children that they look after who are missing from their care placements and the actions being taken to locate them and make sure that they are safe. Children's services must make regular reports to council members with responsibility for corporate parenting on patterns of children going missing from care.

Children: Human Trafficking

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assistance his Department is providing to the London borough of Hillingdon to support the borough's role in caring for trafficked children.

Dawn Primarolo: My ministerial colleague, the Baroness Morgan of Drefelin, met officials from the London borough of Hillingdon in March last year to discuss work they are undertaking on child trafficking at Heathrow airport in partnership with officers from the Paladin Team. It is for each local authority to provide services to meet the needs of their local population, including the needs of children who may have been trafficked. To support local authorities the Government published multi-agency guidance targeted specifically at safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children who may have been trafficked in December 2007. This contains a comprehensive strategy to improve the identification and safeguarding of child victims of trafficking. Furthermore, in 2009 DCSF also published revised guidance on sexual exploitation and children missing from care and young runways guidance, which include details of how services must work to protect children from trafficking.

Children: Nutrition

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many food vending machines there are in  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools in (i) England, (ii) Leicester and (iii) the East Midlands.

Diana Johnson: The Department for Children Schools and Families does not collect this information.

Children: Public Law

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many cases were awaiting allocation in public law on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many children were involved in such cases;
	(2)  how many Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service cases were unallocated in London on the latest date for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: Nationally, as of 11 January 2010, CAFCASS had 688 unallocated public law cases, involving 1,161 children. As of the same date, CAFCASS London had 27 unallocated public law cases, involving 44 children. All of these cases have been reviewed, prioritised and screened for risk and this is a continuous process until substantive allocation takes place. This Department has asked CAFCASS to take urgent action to tackle the unallocated cases and has made available additional resources for London of up to £1.6 million in this financial year to do so.

Class Sizes: Greater London

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average class size for  (a) 5,  (b) 6 and  (c) 7 year-olds in primary schools was in each London borough in (i) 1990, (ii) 1992, (iii) 1997, (iv) 2001, (v) 2005 and (vi) the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Diana Johnson: Class size information was first collected in 1998. Information for 1998, 2001, 2005 and 2009 is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Average class sizes( 1)  for year groups( 2)  1, 2 and 3 in local authority maintained primary schools( 3) , years: 1998, 2001, 2005 and 2009, coverage: London boroughs 
			   1998  2001  2005  2009 
			   Year group 1  Year group 2  Year group 3  Year group 1  Year group 2  Year group 3  Year group 1  Year group 2  Year group 3  Year group 1  Year group 2  Year group 3 
			 Barking and Dagenham 27.6 27.7 25.8 26.9 26.5 28.1 26.7 27.5 27.2 27.9 27.9 27.0 
			 Barnet 28.2 27.6 26.9 27.5 26.8 27.7 27.7 28.1 27.6 28.9 27.2 27.4 
			 Bexley 29.3 30.2 29.8 27.8 27.1 29.0 27.7 27.3 27.6 28.1 27.6 28.3 
			 Brent 26.9 24.6 27.0 27.6 27.6 28.4 26.6 27.2 28.6 29.2 28.1 27.9 
			 Bromley 30.3 29.4 30.0 27.9 24.9 29.8 27.4 27.4 28.9 28.2 27.5 29.4 
			 Camden 27.5 27.5 27.6 27.8 28.4 28.3 27.3 27.0 27.9 28.3 27.3 27.9 
			 City of London 25.0 n/a n/a 30.0 30.0 n/a n/a 27.0 30.0 29.0 30.0 n/a 
			 Croydon 28.4 28.1 29.5 27.3 26.7 27.8 26.8 28.1 28.3 28.7 27.9 28.0 
			 Ealing 28.0 27.5 27.9 27.0 26.6 27.9 28.1 28.2 28.1 28.8 27.1 27.6 
			 Enfield 29.9 29.9 29.7 27.8 27.5 28.7 27.8 27.4 29.1 28.9 28.7 28.7 
			 Greenwich 26.1 26.8 27.6 25.6 25.9 26.8 26.7 27.2 26.8 27.2 26.2 26.1 
			 Hackney 26.0 26.3 27.1 27.0 26.9 27.0 26.3 27.1 27.8 27.8 25.8 26.2 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 24.8 27.5 27.5 27.7 28.2 26.1 26.7 25.6 27.9 27.7 27.3 27.6 
			 Haringey 27.9 26.9 27.3 28.2 28.2 27.7 26.6 28.2 28.3 28.4 27.8 26.7 
			 Harrow 28.2 29.1 28.4 26.9 27.6 27.9 27.4 26.7 27.9 29.0 27.6 26.8 
			 Havering 28.3 28.4 28.3 27.2 26.9 26.4 27.1 26.6 27.3 28.0 27.6 27.6 
			 Hilling don 28.6 29.1 27.8 26.6 26.2 26.9 26.9 26.2 26.9 28.0 26.9 27.4 
			 Hounslow 28.7 27.4 26.9 27.1 27.4 26.1 27.2 25.9 26.9 28.9 26.5 27.4 
			 Islington 28.6 26.1 28.4 26.5 27.6 27.8 26.9 26.3 26.2 26.5 25.2 26.6 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 25.6 26.4 26.0 27.0 26.7 25.7 27.7 28.8 27.4 27.0 27.3 25.8 
			 Kingston upon Thames 33.1 31.3 31.4 27.1 23.3 29.8 28.5 28.5 27.2 28.8 27.1 28.2 
			 Lambeth 25.8 27.2 25.6 26.5 26.5 26.6 27.2 26.2 27.0 27.5 26.9 26.1 
			 Lewisham 28.2 28.1 27.4 28.3 26.6 26.8 25.9 26.9 27.3 28.8 26.4 26.9 
			 Merton 30.8 28.0 28.1 26.5 24.7 28.3 26.7 26.5 26.5 27.3 26.9 27.3 
			 Newham 29.4 29.1 29.2 28.6 28.2 28.8 27.2 27.2 28.0 27.8 27.6 27.4 
			 Redbridge 28.8 28.5 29.6 28.7 26.8 29.1 28.7 28.4 29.2 29.4 28.7 29.0 
			 Richmond upon Thames 27.9 28.8 27.7 26.9 27.2 27.1 28.2 27.8 27.1 29.0 27.2 27.6 
			 Southwark 27.1 27.4 27.6 26.9 26.8 27.4 25.7 26.6 26.7 26.0 25.2 25.0 
			 Sutton 27.2 28.6 28.0 26.1 25.8 28.3 27.5 28.0 29.3 28.1 27.8 28.4 
			 Tower Hamlets 28.5 27.7 28.1 28.0 27.2 26.8 27.1 27.8 27.6 28.6 27.4 26.6 
			 Waltham Forest 27.4 28.9 27.5 27.7 27.1 28.8 28.6 27.2 27.1 28.8 29.1 28.4 
			 Wandsworth 26.0 25.5 25.7 25.5 24.9 27.2 27.6 26.1 26.5 27.3 26.0 26.0 
			 Westminster 26.3 24.0 26.0 28.3 27.8 25.6 26.7 27.2 27.6 25.9 27.6 26.5 
			 n/a = Not applicable-no children in this year group. (1) One teacher classes as taught during a single selected period in each school on the day of the census in January. (2) Year groups 1, 2 and 3 refer to children aged five, six and seven respectively, with the exception of a small number of children who are placed outside of their year group. (3) Includes middle schools as deemed.  Source: School Census

Departmental Billing

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of invoices from suppliers his Department paid within 10 days of receipt in November and December 2009.

Diana Johnson: The Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) paid 99.9 per cent. (which was rounded to 100 per cent. by DWP when they reported on DCSF performance) of invoices to suppliers within 10 days of receipt in November 2009 and 98 per cent. within 10 days of receipt in December 2009.
	This is based on information supplied by the Department for Work and Pensions who process invoice payments on behalf of DCSF.
	 Note:
	DCSF moved to a new ERP system under a Shared Services agreement with DWP in November 2009 and special payment arrangements were operated by DWP and DCSF during transition.

Departmental Billing

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the average length of time taken by his Department to pay invoices from  (a) small and medium-sized enterprises and  (b) all creditors in the last 12 months.

Diana Johnson: The Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) paid 98 per cent. of invoices to suppliers within 10 days of receipt in December 2009 (This is based on information supplied by the Department for Work and Pensions who process invoice payments on behalf of DCSF).
	These figures are for all creditors, including payments to small and medium-sized enterprises. While aiming to pay SMEs as soon as possible, and within 10 days, Departments and their agencies have agreed to bring forward payments to all businesses, given the role of larger businesses in the supply chain. This avoids complicating payment systems and potential competition or state aid issues.
	 Note:
	DCSF moved to a new ERP system under a Shared Services agreement with DWP in November 2009 and special payment arrangements were operated by DWP and DCSF during transition.

Departmental Disclosure of Information

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible sell information on a commercial basis to  (a) companies or individuals in the private sector and  (b) other organisations.

Diana Johnson: Government Departments, agencies and non-departmental public bodies that have Crown status, make most of their information available for free re-use under PSI Click-Use licence. Additionally, whilst some information is sold as priced publications, none of the Department for Children, Schools and Families' nine executive non-departmental public bodies sells information on a commercial/profit making basis to private sector companies/individuals and other organisations.

Departmental Fines

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what powers  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) have to impose administrative penalties; what the statutory basis is for each such power; and how much (i) his Department and its predecessor and (ii) each of its NDPBs have recovered in administrative penalties in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Diana Johnson: The Department (like its predecessor) has no powers to impose administrative penalties.
	None of the Department's NDPBs has powers to impose administrative penalties.
	Neither the Department, its predecessor, nor any of its NDPBs has therefore recovered any sum by way of administrative penalties.

Departmental Internet

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which websites his Department's staff are prevented from accessing on departmental networked computers.

Diana Johnson: The DCSF Corporate IT System accesses the internet via the Government Secure Intranet (GSI) service as provided by Cable and Wireless and complies with the provisions of the GSI code of connection (as required by mandatory requirement 39 of the HMG Security Policy Framework). In order to assist with this compliance, DCSF utilises SurfControl's Web Filter to prevent access to undesirable websites. This software provides a list of categories to be blocked and URLs of sites within the category are updated on a daily basis. There are a small number of casual and contract staff who are not permitted any internet access. However, the majority of DCSF staff are allowed access to the internet subject to the following restrictions:
	DCSF blocks access to the following categories:
	Adult/Sexually Explicit
	Intolerance and Hate
	Criminal Activity
	Violence
	Weapons
	Gambling
	Spy ware
	Hacking
	In addition, a small number of individual websites have also been blocked for a variety of technical and policy related reasons.

Departmental Manpower

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many performance reviews were undertaken in respect of staff of his Department and its predecessors in each of the last five years; in how many cases performance was rated as unsatisfactory or below; how many staff left as a direct result of such a rating; and what percentage of full-time equivalent staff this represented.

Diana Johnson: The information requested is set out in the following table:
	
		
			   Department  Numbers reviewed  N umber  not meeting required standard  Number unsatisfactory 
			 2008 DCSF 2,699 52 (1)- 
			 2009 DCSF 2,813 90 (1)- 
			 (1) Figures less than five have been suppressed on grounds of confidentiality 
		
	
	The Department reviews the performance of staff against their set objectives throughout the year and takes immediate action to address performance or development issues. If performance does not improve dismissal can result. The number for unsatisfactory in the above table only refers to those in grades below the senior civil service (SCS). There is no unsatisfactory mark in the SCS performance management system and poor performance procedures are started immediately.
	Staff don't leave automatically as a result of an unsatisfactory marking as the performance improvement measures described above are put in place. Data for the former Department for Education and Skills (DfES) for the period 2005-07, is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Public Expenditure

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department and its predecessor spent on  (a) new furnishings,  (b) works of art and  (c) new vehicles in each of the last two years.

Diana Johnson: Spend by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and its predecessor Department, Department for Education and Skills, on new furnishings, and new vehicles in the last two financial years and the current financial year to date is shown as follows.
	Expenditure on new furnishings was higher during 2007-08 and 2008-09 owing to a total refurbishment programme at Sanctuary Buildings.
	The Department for Children, Schools and Families financial system does not hold information on the amount of spend incurred purely for art works. Therefore the information could be provided only at disproportionate costs.
	
		
			   Total new furnishings (desk, chairs, carpets, blinds and curtains) (£)  New vehicles 
			 2007/08 1,657,739 0 
			 2008/09 764,246 0 
			 2009/10 125,978 0

Departmental Telephone Services

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many telephone lines with the prefix  (a) 0870,  (b) 0845 and  (c) 0800 his Department (i) operates and (ii) sponsors; how many calls were received to each number in the last 12 months; and whether alternative numbers charged at the BT local rate are available in each case.

Diana Johnson: The DCSF currently operates four telephone lines with the prefix  (a) 0870, two telephone lines with the prefix  (b) 0845 and one telephone line with the prefix  (c) 0800. The DCSF currently sponsors no telephone lines with the prefix  (a) 0870, four telephone lines with the prefix  (b) 0845 and no telephone lines with the prefix  (c) 0800. Alternative (geographic 'BT local rate') numbers are available in each case.
	The DCSF cannot provide the number of calls received by each number in the last 12 months. The information is not readily available centrally in the Department. To provide the information would involve an extensive information collection exercise which would exceed the recommended disproportionate cost threshold.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many students received education maintenance allowance in  (a) England and  (b) Milton Keynes in 2009-10.

Iain Wright: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) who operate the education maintenance allowance (EMA) for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). Geoff Russell, the LSC's acting chief executive, will write to my hon. Friend with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Libraries.

Family Learning Impact Fund

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how much has been spent on the Family Learning Impact Fund in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Family Learning Impact Fund; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Funding has been provided since April 2008 for the Family Learning Impact Fund. £10 million was made available in 2008-09 and £10 million in 2009-10.
	The Family Learning Impact Fund has specific strands to support parents and their children-early years foundation stage, family numeracy, financial capability, digital families (school information for parents using online resources), and a strand looking at improving data collection on the number of parents and children participating.
	The FLIF programme has exceeded its year 1 target of reaching 10,500 mothers and fathers, with 13,391 mothers and fathers and 9,700 children enrolling on the programme during 2008-09. In addition, the programme supported the training of 890 new family learning practitioners and helped develop a range of new resource materials to support delivery. The programme is on track to meet its targets for enrolling mothers and fathers (15,000) and children (10,000) on courses in year 2.

Foster Care

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate has been made of the number and proportion of local authorities which have a policy of considering friends and family as a first option when seeking foster placements for looked-after children; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: We do not collect data on the number of local authorities which have a policy of considering friends and family as a first option. However, it is already a principal of the Children Act 1989 that local authorities should support the upbringing of children by their families wherever possible, if it is in the child's best interests. The Children and Young Persons Act 2008 strengthened this requirement. Volume 1 of the revised Children Act 1989 statutory guidance requires local authorities to demonstrate that they have considered family members and friends as potential carers at each stage of the decision making process.

GCE A-level

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many white  (a) boys and  (b) girls eligible for free school meals achieved three A grades at A-level in 1997.

Diana Johnson: holding answer 19 January 2010
	 The information can not be provided as pupil level data relating to ethnicity and free school meals was not collected as far back as 1997.

GCSE: Disadvantaged

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of white  (a) boys and  (b) girls eligible for free school meals at the end of key stage 4 achieved five A* or A grades at GCSE, including English and mathematics but excluding equivalents in the (i) earliest and (ii) most recent year for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 11 January 2010
	Pupil level attainment data by free school meal eligibility and ethnicity is only available from 2003 onwards. The information requested is presented in the following table and is for maintained schools only.
	
		
			   Number of white pupils( 1)  eligible for free school meals achieving five or more A* or A grades at GCSE including English and Maths (excluding equivalents)  Percentage of white pupils eligible for free school meals achieving five or more A* or A grades at GCSE including English and Maths (excluding equivalents) 
			   Boys  Girls  Boys  Girls 
			 2003 158 213 0.6 0.8 
			 2009(2) 211 344 0.8 1.4 
			 (1) Figures for 2003 are based on pupils aged 15 and 2009 figures are based on pupils at the end of key stage 4. (2) Figures for 2009 are provisional.  Source:  National Pupil Database.

GCSE: Disadvantaged

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils eligible for free school meals attended schools at which fewer than 30 per cent. of pupils achieved five A* to C grades at GCSE including English and mathematics but excluding equivalents in  (a) 1997 and  (b) the most recent year for which figures are available.

Diana Johnson: holding answer 18 January 2010
	In 2009 there were 89,580 pupils eligible(1) for free school meals attending schools at which fewer than 30 per cent. of pupils achieved five A* to C grades at GCSE including English and mathematics but excluding equivalents(2) (includes post 16 pupils).
	To provide information for 1997 would incur disproportionate cost.
	(1) Those eligible may choose not to take up their offer of a free school meal for various reasons e.g. through preference or non attendance on the day. Pupils are counted as eligible only if they meet the eligibility criteria and make a claim.
	(2) Includes maintained mainstream schools with more than 10 pupils. Qualifications include GCSEs, GCSE short courses, GCSE double awards, vocational single and double GCSEs and AS levels.

GCSE: Disadvantaged

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of students at each secondary school in  (a) the City of Newcastle upon Tyne,  (b) North Tyneside borough,  (c) Gateshead borough and  (d) Northumberland (i) achieved English GCSE grades A* to C, (ii) achieved mathematics GCSE grades A* to C and (iii) qualified for free school meals in 2009.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 26 January 2010
	The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

Health Education: Sex

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether he plans to change the protection provided for in law against the teaching of sex and relationships education not appropriate to the age, religious and cultural background of pupils.

Diana Johnson: The Children, Schools and Families Bill includes provisions that place a duty on the governing body and head teacher of a school to ensure that personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education (which includes sex and relationships education) is taught in a way that is appropriate to the ages of the pupils concerned and to their religious and cultural backgrounds.

Home Education Independent Review

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many representatives he has received on the recommendations of the Badman review of secondary education percentage of these supported the introduction of a regulator for home education.

Diana Johnson: The registration and monitoring of home education proposals arising from the Badman report were subject to a full public consultation between 11 June and 19 October 2009. There were 5,211 responses which were mainly from home educators, their relatives and supporters and related organisations. Most of the responses were against the introduction of registration and monitoring.

Music: Education

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of  (a) Key Stage 1 and  (b) Key Stage 2 pupils received specialist instrumental or vocal tuition in each of the last five years.

Diana Johnson: holding answer 28 January 2010
	There is no requirement for schools to provide this information, though the following data are available from information which local authorities voluntarily report to the National Music Participation Director in connection with their Local Authority Music Plans. Local authorities had predicted that 22 per cent. of their Key Stage 2 pupils would participate in their Wider Opportunities programmes in 2008-09, and have since reported that the actual figure was 24 per cent. that is 509,628 pupils. For 2009/10 the predicted figure is 31 per cent. The actual numbers will be reported to the National Music Participation Director by November 2010 and the percentage then calculated using the figure for total Key Stage 2 pupil numbers.
	84 per cent. of primary schools have now signed up to 'Sing Up'.

National Safeguarding Delivery Unit: Standards

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 14 January 2010,  Official Report, column 1123W, on the National Safeguarding Delivery Unit: standards, if he will place in the Library a copy of each of the agreed monthly Milestones.

Dawn Primarolo: The agreed milestones for the implementation of the Government's response to Lord Laming's recommendations are set out in 'The protection of children in England: action plan - The Government's response to Lord Laming', published in May last year, available at
	http://publications.everychildmatters.gov.uk/default. aspx?PageFunction=productdetailsPageMode=publications Productld=CM+7589
	The National Safeguarding Delivery Unit reports progress towards these milestones to a cross-Government programme board of senior officials which meets on a monthly basis.
	The Unit also reports into the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Families, Children, and Young People through a new ministerial sub-group which meets on a quarterly basis.
	The National Safeguarding Delivery Unit published an interim report on progress made towards these milestones on 18 December 2009, available at
	http://publications.dcsf.gov.uk/default.aspx?PageFunction =productdetailsPageMode=publications Productld=DCSF-01181-2009
	A further progress report will be published in due course.

Pre-School Education: Preston

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) free nursery and  (b) pre-school places were available for (i) three and (ii) four year-olds in Preston in each year since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: Table 1 shows the number of part-time equivalent places filled by three and four year olds in Preston constituency from 2004 to 2009.
	The Department publishes information on the part-time equivalent number of free early education places filled by three and four year olds in maintained, private, voluntary and independent providers. Information on the number of pre-school places is not separately available. Part-time equivalent places are derived by counting children taking up 12 and a half hours per week as one place, 10 hours per week as 0.8 places, seven and a half hours per week as 0.6 places, five hours per week as 0.4 places and two and a half hours per week as 0.2 places. Data at Parliamentary constituency level are not available prior to 2004.
	
		
			  Table 1: Part-time equivalent number of free early education places( 1, 2, 3)  filled by three and four year olds( 4) , Parliamentary constituency: Preston, position in January each year 
			   3-year- olds  4-year- olds 
			 2004 1,100 1,200 
			 2005 1,100 1,100 
			 2006 1,100 1,100 
			 2007 1,200 1,100 
			 2008 1,200 1,100 
			 2009 1,300 1,100 
			 (1) A place is equal to 12.5 hours (five sessions) and can be filled by more than one child. (2) Figures are rounded to the nearest 100. (3) Prior to 2004, information on early education places was derived from returns made by local authorities as part of the Nursery Education Grant (NEG) data collection exercise. These data were collected at local authority level, therefore, data for this parliamentary constituency is not available prior to 2004. (4) Age of all children taken at 31 December in the previous calendar year.  Source:  Early Years Census and School Census. 
		
	
	The latest figures on early education places for three and four year olds in England were published in Statistical First Release (SFR) 11/2009 Provision for children under five years of age in England: January 2009, available on my Department's website at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000848/index.shtml

Pre-School Education: Preston

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many new nurseries have been established in Preston since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department only holds data for the establishment of maintained nursery provision, which is recorded at local authority level. Information on other types of nursery provision is not held centrally. The following table sets out the numbers for each year in which new maintained nursery provision was established in the Lancashire local authority area, under local decision making arrangements which were introduced in September 1999.
	From this local authority level data we have identified that no new maintained nursery schools have been established in Preston since 1999. However, two primary schools made prescribed alterations to add nursery units to their schools in 2001 and these are highlighted in the local authority table. Information about decisions made under the arrangements that operated prior to September 1999 is not reliable and is, therefore, not included.
	
		
			  New maintained nursery provision established in the Lancashire local authority area 
			   2001  2005  2006  2007  2008  2010  Total 
			 New maintained nursery Schools - 1 - - 1 - 2 
			 New nursery units added to other schools (1)4 2 1 1 2 1 11 
			 Total 4 3 1 1 3 1 13 
			 (1) Includes the two Preston Primary Schools

Primary Education: Pupil Numbers

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what projections his Department has made of the numbers of primary school children over the next 10 years; and what funding has been allocated to increase numbers of such children in  (a) Test Valley borough,  (b) Southampton City,  (c) the Ceremonial County of Hampshire and  (d) the South East.

Diana Johnson: The Department's projections for the number of pupils in maintained primary schools in England between 2009/10 and 2016/17 are given in the following table.
	Projections are not published beyond 2017 due to the increasing levels of uncertainty over time. For example, the outturn for January 2009 differed by nearly 1.0 per cent. from our 2003 based projection for that year, but was less than 0.2 per cent. out from our 2008 based projection. Factors which contribute to differences between projections and outturn data include the underlying population trends, participation among under fives and variations of proportions attending independent schools.
	
		
			  Maintained primary schools, full-time equivalent number of pupils( 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) 
			  Thousand 
			  At January in each academic year  Maintained primary schools 
			  Actual  
			 2008/09 3,947 
			   
			  Projected  
			 2009/10 3,967 
			 2010/11 4,010 
			 2011/12 4,081 
			 2012/13 4,176 
			 2013/14 4,292 
			 2014/15 4,376 
			 2015/16 4,437 
			 2016/17 4,483 
			 (1 )Full-time equivalent numbers count each part-time pupil as 0.5. (2 )Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand pupils. (3 )The data include dually registered pupils. (4 )Experience has shown that totals in maintained primary schools are usually within ±0.2 per cent. for the first projected year. There is less certainty in the longer term. For example, the outturn for January 2009 differed by nearly 1.0 per cent. from our 2003 based projection for that year, but was less than 0.2 per cent. out from our 2008 based projection. Factors which contribute to differences between projections and outturn data include the underlying population trends, participation among under fives and variations of proportions attending independent schools. (5 )Projections allow for increase in take up of early years education towards universal provision. (6 )Projections use the mid-2008 based Office for National Statistics (ONS) population projections. (7 )The previous projections (PT278), published in Annex N of the Department's Annual Report of June 2009, used the mid-2006 based ONS population projections.  Sources:  School census (January 2009) and DCSF pupil projections (PT279, December 2009) 
		
	
	The Department does not allocate funding on a phase basis, so no figures for primary school funding are available. Total Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) funding figures for pupils aged three to 15 for Southampton LA, Portsmouth LA, Hampshire LA and south east LAs in 2009-10 (final allocations) and 2010-11 (indicative allocations) are shown as follows. No funding allocations have been made beyond 2010-11 at this time. (Allocations for Test Valley borough are included within Hampshire LA.)
	
		
			  £  million 
			  Local authority  Final 2009-10 DSG allocations  Indicative 2010-11 DSG allocations 
			 Southampton 112.153 117.063 
			 Portsmouth 101.015 104.174 
			 Hampshire 692.510 720.147 
			 South East LAs 4,546.166 4,735.011 
		
	
	These figures are for DSG revenue funding only and exclude any capital monies.
	Further details can be found at:
	http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/management/schoolfunding/schoolfunding2008to11/dsg200811/
	In addition to DSG, further funding to schools is available through specific grants such as the School Standards Grant, School Development Grant and other Standards Funds. Further details for the latest specific grant allocation in 2009-10 and 2010-11 are available at:
	http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/management/schoolfunding/schoolfunding2008to11/specificgrants200811/
	In November 2009, the Department announced the allocation of £1,000,000 to Southampton LA to support the provision of additional primary places by 2011. This was part of a total of £271 million that was allocated to 34 authorities which had applied for exceptional funding for additional primary school places where there was greatest need. Hampshire LA also applied for this funding, but did not meet our criteria of high growth and need.

Pupil Exclusions

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils received more than  (a) 15 and  (b) 20 fixed-period exclusions in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: The requested information for 2007/08 is shown in the table. Information for 2006/07 has also been included.
	
		
			  Primary, secondary and special schools( 1, 2, 3) : Number of times pupil enrolments were excluded for a fixed period( 4) , 2006/07 and 2007/08 
			   Number of pupil enrolments( 4) 
			   2006/07  2007/08 
			  Number of fixed period exclusions per pupil enrolment:( 5)   
			 More than 15 130 150 
			 More than 20 40 40 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed.  (2 )Includes city technology colleges and academies (including all-through academies).  (3) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. Excludes general hospital schools.  (4) Pupils may be counted more than once if they were registered at more than one school or moved schools during the school year.  (5) Those pupils counted in the 'more than 20' category are also included in the 'more than 15' category.   Note:  Figures rounded to nearest 10.   Source:  School Census.

Pupils: Epilepsy

Edward Timpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the number of children with epilepsy in mainstream schools who achieve examination results lower than indicated by their assessed intellectual level.

Diana Johnson: Information on the attainment of pupils with epilepsy is not collected centrally.

Pupils: Greater London

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average per pupil funding in  (a) rural,  (b) urban and  (c) inner London secondary schools was in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The average per student funding of secondary schools in rural, urban and inner-London settings is set out for the financial years 2004-05 and 2009-10 in the following table. Data are not available before 2004-05 as the urban/rural classification was only created in 2004. To produce urban/rural data for all years would be at disproportionate cost so a comparator of inner London and rest of England has been provided for intervening years.
	
		
			  The Education (Budget Statements) (England) Regulations, total budget share (plus grants)( 1, 2 ) per pupil( 3)  in secondary schools( 4)  in England in inner London( 4)  and rest of England 2004-05 to 2009-10 (with an urban/rural split in RoE: 2004-05 and 2009-10), cash terms( 5)  figures as reported by local authorities as at 12 January 2010 
			   Total budget share (plus grants) per pupil (£) 
			   Inner London  Urban (excluding inner London)  Rural  Rest of England (i.e. excluding inner London)  England 
			 2004-05 4,580 3,440 3,250 3,410 3,460 
			 2005-06 4,970 - - 3,700 3,760 
			 2006-07 5,380 - - 4,040 4,100 
			 2007-08 6,020 - - 4,380 4,440 
			 2008-09 6,260 - - 4,560 4,630 
			 2009-10 6,480 4,750 4,430 4,700 4,770 
			 (1) Budget share plus grants allocated to schools is the combination of the schools individual budget share plus any revenue grants allocated to the school at the start of the financial year. This does not include any capital funding allocated to schools. (2) The amount of money allocated to a school depends on the school funding policy of each local authority. There will be differences between authorities in the amounts of funding held centrally to spend on behalf of their schools. (3) The pupil numbers used to calculate the per pupil amounts are as reported by the local authority on their Section 52 Budget Statement (Table 2), comprising the full-time equivalent number of pupils registered at the school, used for the initial determination of the school's budget share under the local authority's allocation formula. (4) Included are all local authority maintained primary schools which are reported by their LA as being open for the entire final year (schools that are reported as either opening or closing during the financial year have been removed). (5) Figures are rounded to nearest £10.

Pupils: Obesity

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether he has made an estimate of the level of obesity amongst pupils who are eligible for free school meals.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 12 January 2010
	The information is not available in the form requested.
	However, the National Child Measurement programme (NCMP) provides data on the prevalence of obesity in children aged four to five years (reception year) and 10 to 11 years (year 6). Figures 13 and 14 in the NCMP report for 2008/09 provide information on the prevalence of obese children in reception and year 6 as measured by the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2007. This publication has been placed in the Library. The report shows there is a strong gradient for child obesity against area-based deprivation: the obesity prevalence rate in children in the decile of highest deprivation is 22.6 per cent. compared to 13.4 per cent. of children in the decile of lowest deprivation. Data from the school census 2009 shows a similar gradient for eligibility for free school meals against area-based deprivation: 40.5 per cent. of pupils aged five to 15 in the decile of highest deprivation are eligible for free school meals compared to 2.3 per cent. of pupils aged five to 15 in the decile with lowest deprivation.

Schools: Microphones

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of state schools in England have a facility for the sound amplification of teachers' voices fitted in the majority of classrooms.

Vernon Coaker: The Department does not collect information about the number of state schools with the facility for the sound amplification of teachers' voices.
	For schools that wish to install such facilities, guidance is given in the Department's Building Bulletin 93 Acoustic Design of Schools.

Schools: Microphones

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether his Department has commissioned any recent research on the effects on pupil  (a) learning and  (b) behaviour of the sound amplification of teachers' voices in classrooms.

Vernon Coaker: The Department has not commissioned any research about the effects of the sound amplification of teachers' voices in classrooms on pupil learning and behaviour.

Schools: Playing Fields

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much revenue has accrued from the sale of school playing fields since May 1997; and what area of such fields has been sold in Leeds West constituency in that period.

Iain Wright: Legislation was introduced on 1 October 1998, under section 77 of the School Standards and Framework Act, to stop the indiscriminate sale of school playing fields. We do not hold records of how many were sold before this date but we do know that there was growing public concern about the number being lost. Since 1 October 1998 no school playing field has been sold to raise revenue funding.
	A sale is only allowed if the playing field in question is genuinely surplus and all of the sale proceeds must be used towards specific capital projects to improve school sports provision or educational facilities.
	Investment in school buildings has risen from £683 million in 1996-97 to £21.8 billion in the three year period 2008-09 to 2010-11. Schools no longer have to sell their playing fields to pay for repairs.
	There have not been any approvals for the sale of school playing fields in Leeds West constituency.

Schools: Preston

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent assessment he has made of the effects on schools of changes to the level of expenditure on school sports in Preston since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: In the eight years to 2011, the Government would have invested £2.4 billion in the national PE and sport strategy which aims to improve the quality and quantity of physical education (PE) and school sport up and down the country. At the heart of our strategy is the establishment of a national infrastructure of School Sport Partnerships, which now includes every maintained school in the country. However, the boundaries and membership of School Sport Partnerships in Preston has changed over time, as the network was rolled out across the country. This makes it difficult to show, accurately, the extent of the impact of that investment in Preston.
	However, our annual PE and sport survey shows that, in Lancashire as a whole, the percentage of pupils doing at least two hours high quality PE and sport per week has increased over time, as follows:
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 2004/05 56 
			 2005/06 77 
			 2006/07 82 
			 2007/08 89 
		
	
	In 2008/09, the survey changed to measure the percentage of pupils doing three hours high quality PE and sport each week. For Lancashire as a whole this figure was 52 per cent., against a national figure of 51 per cent.

Schools: Sports

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether he has made a recent estimate of the proportion of schools which hold an annual sports day.

Iain Wright: holding answer 10 February 2010
	The annual PE and Sport Survey collects data from maintained schools relating to pupils' participation in PE and sport. The 2008/09 survey found that all primary schools and 98 per cent. of secondary schools held a sports day during the last academic year.

Schools: Standards

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many schools rated inadequate for  (a) behaviour and  (b) leadership by Ofsted are also rated (i) inadequate overall, (ii) satisfactory overall, (iii) good overall and (iv) outstanding overall;
	(2)  how many schools Ofsted rates  (a) outstanding,  (b) good,  (c) satisfactory and  (d) inadequate.
	(3)  how many schools Ofsted rates as outstanding for leadership.

Vernon Coaker: These are matters for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the Library.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 11 February 2010:
	Your recent parliamentary questions have been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for response.
	The latest period for which published figures about maintained school section 5 inspection outcomes are available is the academic year 2008/09. This answer, therefore, takes into account inspections carried out prior to 1 September 2009.
	At 1 December 2009 there were 22,260 schools open and eligible for a section 5 Ofsted inspection. Of these, 21,920 had received at least one section 5 inspection. These schools, together with their latest inspection judgements, form the basis for the response.
	Of the 21,920 schools, 3,577 (16%) were judged as outstanding for overall effectiveness at their last inspection, 11,033 (50%) were judged as good, 6,950 (32%) were judged as satisfactory and 360 (2%) were found to be inadequate.
	Of the 21,920 schools, 3,972 (18%) were judged as outstanding for leadership and management at their last inspection and 222 (1%) were judged as inadequate.
	Of the 222 schools judged to have inadequate leadership and management, all were judged to be inadequate for overall effectiveness.
	Of the 21,920 schools, 48 were judged to have inadequate behaviour. Of these, 9 were judged to be satisfactory for overall effectiveness and 39 were judged as inadequate. None was found to be outstanding or good for overall effectiveness,
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Vernon Coaker MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners, and placed in the library of both Houses.

Teachers

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many qualified teachers have stopped working as teachers since 2003;
	(2)  how many teachers who had left the maintained sector were teaching in another sector in the latest year for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Teaching: Licensing

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what discussions he has had with the General Teaching Council on arrangements for implementation of his Department's proposed licence to practise; how much funding has been allocated to the implementation of that scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: We are working closely through a joint project with the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE) to design a licensing system that is simple and workable. The clauses providing for a 'licence to practise' are included in the Children, Schools and Families Bill which is progressing through Parliament. We have already published an impact assessment alongside the Bill which outlines our current estimates of the costs of introducing the system to support the 'licence to practise'. We will have a clearer picture of the precise costs once the joint work with the GTCE is concluded. The impact assessment and other related documents are available on the website at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/childrenschoolsandfamiliesbill/

Vocational Education

Alan Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent assessment he has made of the effects on students' careers of the availability of vocational courses in schools.

Vernon Coaker: An assessment has not been made to date of the effects on careers of vocational learning in schools. We do know that wider research has indicated a positive return to earnings for those undertaking vocational learning while our own Youth Cohort study suggests that around 22 per cent. of learners with existing vocational qualifications are in higher education by the age of 19. Vocational and applied qualifications offer valuable choice to young people and 14-19 Diplomas in particular will enable young people to achieve their ambitions because employers and higher education designed them.

Young People: Community Orders

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to his Department's press release of 24 April 2009 on community service for young people, from which budgets the funding for the programme will be drawn.

Diana Johnson: The Community Service programme will be funded from DCSF programme budgets.

Young People: Training

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what formula was used to determine the funding allocated to local authorities for 16-plus skills provision in 2010-11.

Iain Wright: The funding formula used to determine the allocation for each provider is that contained within the learner responsive model for schools and colleges and within the employer responsive model for work-based learning providers. Details of how these models work can be found at:
	http://www.lsc.gov.uk/publications/latestdocuments/Detail.htm?id=abeca474-ace6-493e-9fc9-e83545caf9b5
	Funding is not allocated through local authorities for 19+ education and training other than for those with a learning difficulty assessment.

Young People: Training

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding has been awarded to each local authority for 16-plus skills provision in 2010-11.

Iain Wright: Funding allocated to local authorities for 16-18 learning in the 2010/11 academic year will be the aggregation of all 16-18 providers they are responsible for. The amount of funding each provider will be allocated in 2010/11 is currently being agreed and will be announced by the end of March 2010. Funding is not allocated through local authorities for 19+ education and training other than for those with a learning difficulty assessment.

Young People: Unemployment

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of people aged between 16 and 24 years were not in education, employment or training in each region in each of the last eight quarters for which figures are available.

Iain Wright: Official estimates of the number and proportion of young people of academic age 16 to 18(1) who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) are published by the Department in a Statistical First Release (SFR) each June and can be found on the Department's website:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000849/index.shtml
	Estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) of the number and proportion of people of academic age 16 to 24 who were NEET in each region in England in each of the last eight quarters are shown in the following tables.
	
		
			   Q4 2007  Q1 2008  Q2 2008  Q3 2008 
			   Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 North East 49,000 15 52,000 16 56,000 17 65,000 20 
			 North West 120,000 14 136,000 16 139,000 16 151,000 18 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 82,000 12 75,000 11 101,000 15 119,000 18 
			 East Midlands 70,000 13 69,000 13 71,000 13 86,000 16 
			 West Midlands 93,000 15 95,000 15 98,000 16 119,000 19 
			 East of England 74,000 12 87,000 14 77,000 13 82,000 13 
			 London 123,000 14 129,000 15 132,000 15 149,000 16 
			 South East 116,000 13 104,000 12 111,000 12 131,000 14 
			 South West 56,000 10 63,000 11 55,000 10 71,000 13 
			 England 782,000 13 810,000 14 840,000 14 973,000 16 
		
	
	
		
			   Q4 2008  Q1 2009  Q2 2009  Q3 2009 
			   Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 North East 54,000 17 57,000 18 69,000 21 74,000 23 
			 North West 142,000 17 156,000 18 155,000 18 183,000 21 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 92,000 14 107,000 16 121,000 19 126,000 19 
			 East Midlands 68,000 13 69,000 13 75,000 14 90,000 17 
			 West Midlands 105,000 16 126,000 20 131,000 21 123,000 19 
			 East of England 79,000 13 83,000 14 82,000 13 92,000 15 
			 London 131,000 15 127,000 14 120,000 13 164,000 17 
			 South East 122,000 13 130,000 14 142,000 15 144,000 16 
			 South West 63,000 11 78,000 14 66,000 12 86,000 16 
			 England 857,000 14 935,000 16 959,000 16 1,082,000 18 
		
	
	Estimates from the Labour Force Survey and will include pregnant mothers, those caring for children or relatives, people with a disability or suffering from ill health, and those waiting for a course or job to start, including those on a gap year. It should also be noted that the estimates are subject to survey error, and should therefore be treated with caution. The 95 per cent. confidence interval for a regional estimate of NEET using the Labour Force Survey is typically around plus or minus 2-3 percentage points.
	We are committed to ensuring that young people NEET do not become a lost generation and have taken decisive action to strengthen existing provision and put in place new support, training and jobs for young people. Through the September Guarantee, we are offering all 16 and 17-year-olds a suitable place to continue in learning, and announced on 18 November plans to extend the Guarantee to 16 and 17-year-olds who are NEET in January. Budget 2009 announced the Young Person's Guarantee of a job, training or a place in the Community Task Force for 18 to 24-year-olds who are approaching 12 months on jobseeker's allowance. Already 95,000 jobs under the Future Jobs Fund have been approved and some young people have started work.
	In July, the Government launched 'Backing Young Britain' to bring together businesses, charities and Government to create opportunities for young people giving them a better start on the career ladder.
	By offering schemes such as volunteering, work experience and apprenticeships we will ensure that young people get the start they deserve to get on the career ladder.
	(1) Academic age refers to the age at the start of the academic year, 31 August.

Young People: Unemployment

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of 16 to 19 year-olds in Torbay constituency were  (a) in education, training or employment and  (b) unemployed in each year since 1992.

Iain Wright: Estimates of the number of 16 to 19-year-olds participating in education, employment or training are not available at parliamentary constituency level. The Department for Children Schools and Families publishes annual estimates of the proportion of 16 to 17-year-olds participating in education and training in each local authority. These estimates are available via this link under additional information:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000849/index.shtml
	Connexions services, which have responsibility for supporting young people and tracking their progress, record the main activity of 16 to 18-year-olds who are known to them in each local authority area. These estimates include young people who are resident elsewhere and travel into the area to study. Furthermore, the denominator for these estimates includes a small number of young people whose main activity is not known.
	
		
			   Proportion of 16 to 18-year-olds in education, training or employment (percentage) 
			 2006(1) 83.8 
			 2007(2) 94.8 
			 2008(2) 94.5 
			 1 2006 estimate excludes young people in part-time employment. 2 2007 and 2008 estimates include young people in part-time employment. 
		
	
	Claimant count data is available via the Office for National Statistics Nomis website:
	https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/
	The following table shows the average number of young people aged 16 to 19 claiming job seeker's allowance and thereby registered unemployed in the Torbay constituency in each year from 1996, the first year available. Because population estimates for 16 to 19-year-olds are not routinely available by parliamentary constituency, it is not possible to express these figures as percentages.
	
		
			  Average 16-19 year old claimant count in Torbay 
			   Average claimant count 
			 1996 340 
			 1997 265 
			 1998 250 
			 1999 215 
			 2000 160 
			 2001 170 
			 2002 160 
			 2003 160 
			 2004 150 
			 2005 140 
			 2006 170 
			 2007 170 
			 2008 175 
			 2009 285 
		
	
	It should be noted that 16 and 17-year-olds do not have access to job seeker's allowance except in cases of severe hardship.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Animal Experiments: Primates

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many primates imported into the UK for the purposes of scientific research during 2008 and 2009 were reported to be sick or dead on arrival.

Meg Hillier: During 2008, no non-human primates imported into the UK for the purposes of scientific research were reported to be sick or dead on arrival.
	During 2009, no non-human primates were reported to be dead on arrival. Two showed clinical signs leading to euthanasia after arrival and two had minor injuries requiring treatment.

Animal Experiments: Primates

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many overseas primate suppliers are accredited by his Department to export non-human primates to the UK; and in which country each is based.

Meg Hillier: The Home Office has no remit to accredit overseas primate suppliers. However, the use of any non-human primate from an overseas source under the authority of a project licence issued under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 requires prior approval which is given only if the conditions at the supplying centre, and at the breeding centre where the animals originate if different, are acceptable to the Home Office at the time of the supply.
	There are a total of 10 overseas centres currently considered accepted to provide non-human primates to UK designated user establishments. They are based in Cambodia, China, Israel, Mauritius, Netherlands, Spain and Vietnam.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many anti-social behaviour orders were issued in respect of people  (a) under the age of 16 years,  (b) aged between 17 and 18 years,  (c) aged between 19 and 25 years and  (d) over the age of 25 years in (i) 2008 and (ii) 2009.

Alan Campbell: Information collected centrally by the Ministry of Justice on the number of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued currently covers the period up to 31 December 2007.
	During 2007, a total of 920 ASBOs were issued to young people (defined as being aged 10 to 17 at the date of appearance in court) at all courts in England and Wales. The corresponding figure for adults (defined as being aged 18 or over at the date of appearance in court) is 1,362. During 2007, an additional 17 persons whose age was not reported to the Ministry of Justice were issued with an ASBO.

Antisocial Behaviour: Hemsworth

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department spent on programmes to tackle anti-social behaviour in Hemsworth in  (a) 1997-98 and  (b) 2008-09.

Alan Campbell: Funding data for 1997-98 are not readily available.
	The Home Office did not provide direct funding for programmes to tackle antisocial behaviour in Hemsworth or Wakefield Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) in 2008-09.
	A number of specific and individual Home Office grants have now been combined into Area Based Grant (ABG), which is allocated to local authorities on a three-year basis to maximise stability and certainty. The receiving authorities have flexibility to use ABG as they see fit to deliver local, regional and national priorities in their respective areas.
	Home Office-led activities also act to tackle antisocial behaviour, for example the introduction of community support officers. Funding for neighbourhood policing (NP) (including police community support officers (PCSOs) has been provided to police authorities since 2002-03. For England and Wales the total funding for 2008-09 was £324 million. Hemsworth is within the West Yorkshire police area. Funding for West Yorkshire for 2008-09 NP/PCSOs was £13.6 million. It is for police authorities to allocate resources, and for chief constables to deploy personnel (including PCSOs) within each police force area.

Anti-terrorism Control Orders

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police forces have had responsibility for the enforcement of a control order upon an individual since 2005; how many control orders each such force has been responsible for enforcing in that period; and what estimate he has made of the cost to each such force of discharging such responsibilities.

David Hanson: Between March 2005 and 10 December 2009 (the date at which the last written ministerial statement in relation to control orders reported on), the Metropolitan Police Service was responsible for 25 control orders. 13 other police forces were responsible for the enforcement of 28 control orders. The total number of control orders each police force has been responsible for is greater than the 45 individuals who have ever been subject to control orders because some controlled individuals have moved between police force areas. I would also refer the hon. Member to written ministerial statements in relation to control orders published on 11 December 2006, 16 January 2007, 22 March 2007, 24 May 2007, 21 June 2007 (two statements), 17 September 2007, 13 March 2008, 12 June 2008, 15 September 2008, 15 December 2008, 12 March 2009, 15 June 2009, 16 September 2009 and 15 December 2009 which provide the total number of controlled individuals in and outside of the Metropolitan Police Service area. This is as much information as we can provide about the police forces responsible for controlled individuals given the national security sensitivities of these cases and the need to avoid publishing any information that could lead to the identification of an individual who is subject to an anonymity order.
	The enforcement of control orders is managed from within each police force's overall budget, which includes ring-fenced counter-terrorism funding. The Home Office does not have an estimated cost of managing control orders for each police force. I would refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statements on the allocation of counter-terrorism grants for police authorities for 2005-06; 2006-07; 2007-08; 2008-09; 2009-10 which were published on, respectively, 2 December 2004; 5 December 2005; 28 November 2006; 6 December 2007; 26 November 2008 and 26 November 2009.

Anti-terrorism Control Orders

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what expenditure was incurred on private security firms engaged by police forces for the enforcement of control orders in  (a) 2006,  (b) 2007,  (c) 2008 and  (d) 2009.

David Hanson: The Secretary of State is not aware that any expenditure has been incurred on private security firms engaged by police forces for the enforcement of control orders.
	The electronic monitoring of controlled individuals is delivered by private security companies under contract with the Ministry of Justice.

Anti-terrorism Control Orders

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his Department's total expenditure incurred in respect of the Control Order Review Group was in  (a) 2006,  (b) 2007,  (c) 2008 and  (d) 2009.

David Hanson: The cost of establishing the Home Office's total expenditure for the Control Order Review Group for 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Anti-terrorism Control Orders

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of legal action associated with control orders in  (a) 2006,  (b) 2007,  (c) 2008 and  (d) 2009.

David Hanson: The amount spent by the Home Office on legal action associated with control orders in each financial year starting from April 2006 is set out in the following table. These figures include the costs of the Home Office's own legal representation and advice, the costs of the special advocates and the Special Advocates Support Office and meeting the legal costs of the controlled persons where this has been ordered by the court. The figure for the financial year 2006-07 is based partially on estimates.
	The figure for 2009-10 will not be fully audited until the end of the financial year and may therefore be subject to change. All figures are rounded to the nearest £100.
	
		
			  Amount spent by Home Office on legal action associated with control orders 
			  Financial year  £ 
			 2006-07 1,530,900 
			 2007-08 3,766,200 
			 2008-09 1,837,300 
			 2009-10 (to end January) 1,453,300 
		
	
	The amount attributed by the Legal Service Commission (LSC) to control order legal proceedings is set out in the following table. The LSC cannot be certain that all costs have been paid in a given case until it is closed. The great majority of control order cases in which LSC funding certificates have been issued remain open. The figures provided should therefore not be taken to reflect the full extent of the legal costs of controlled person's open legal representation. Similarly, the LSC will only usually be made aware that the Home Office has been ordered to pay all or part of the legal costs of a controlled person at the point that is the case is closed. Whilst an exact figure cannot be provided, the LSC figures may include some costs already paid by the Home Office that are yet to be recouped.
	
		
			  Amount attributed to control order proceedings by the LSC 
			  Financial year  £ 
			 2006-07 391,000 
			 2007-08 476,300 
			 2008-09 554,400 
			 2009-10 (to end December) 524,300 
		
	
	The Home Office does not hold information on the cost to Her Majesty's Court Service, the Supreme Court or the House of Lords of legal action associated with control orders.

Anti-terrorism Control Orders

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what awards for costs were made against the Government in respect of individuals appealing against control orders put upon them in  (a) 2006,  (b) 2007,  (c) 2008 and  (d) 2009.

David Hanson: When the courts award costs against the Secretary of State, they do not determine the amount that the Government must pay. This will normally be determined by negotiation between the parties.
	No records are held in relation to the amount paid in relation to awards for costs in control order cases made in the financial year 2006-2007.
	Informal records not subject to Home Office accounting and audit processes indicate that the Home Office has paid £1,101,100 in relation to awards for costs in control order cases made in the financial year 2007-2008. (All figures are rounded to the nearest £100.)
	£61,000 has been paid to date in relation to awards for costs made in the financial year 2008-2009. As settlement has not yet been reached in most cases, this represents an interim figure.
	£341,400 has been paid to date in relation to awards for costs made in the financial year 2009-2010. This represents an interim figure as most claims for costs relating to awards made in this financial year have not yet been received and settlement has not yet been reached in those cases where claims have been received.

Arrests

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests were made by police officers in each year since 1999; and what the average number of arrests per police officer was in each such year.

Alan Johnson: The requested data are published annually in the Home Office Statistical Bulletins Police Powers and Procedures and Police Service Strength. The latest editions are available online and all editions are available in the Library of the House. A table is, however, provided for the Member's convenience.
	It should be noted that data provided on arrests covers arrests for notifiable offences only, which account for only a proportion of arrests made by police officers. Information on all arrests is not collected centrally.
	
		
			  Number of arrests for notifiable offences and officer strength 1999-2000 to 2007-08 
			  Year( 1)  Number of arrests for notifiable offences( 2)  Number of police officers( 3)  Number of arrests for notifiable offences per police officer 
			 1999-2000 1,277,900 124,170 10.3 
			 2000-01 1,264,200 125,682 10.1 
			 2001-02 1,271,900 129,603 9.8 
			 2002-03 1,313,100 133,366 9.8 
			 2003-04 1,330,400 139,200 9.6 
			 2004-05 1,353,400 141,230 9.6 
			 2005-06 1,429,800 141,381 10.1 
			 2006-07 1,482,200 140,514 10.5 
			 2007-08 1,475,300 140,230 10.5 
			 (1) Arrests data are not available prior to 1999-2000. Data for arrests in 2008-09 will be published in April 2010. (2 )The Home Office Arrests collection only covers arrests for notifiable offences only, data on arrests for non-notifiable offences are not reported to the Home Office. Data are rounded to the nearest hundred. (3 )Full-time equivalent officer strength figures are provided, including officers on central service secondments. In order to make like-for-like comparisons with earlier years data excludes officers on career breaks, maternity and paternity leave. Strength at the end of each given financial year is provided.

Asylum

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applicants for leave to remain have been awaiting a decision for  (a) up to six months,  (b) up to one year,  (c) up to two years,  (d) up to three years and  (e) more than three years.

Phil Woolas: The UK Border Agency works to agreed service standards. The information requested, expressed as a percentage of cases which met the service standard, is as follows:
	
		
			   2006-07  2007-08  2008-00 
			  Charged applications
			 20 working days (target 70 per cent.) 69.0 70.2 40.2 
			 70 working days (target 90 per cent.) 90.0 94.7 88.7 
			 PEO in 24 hr (target 90 per cent.) 93.0 90.0 93.0 
			 
			  Non-charged applications
			 20 working days (target 70 per cent.) 46.0 89.9 35.0 
			 70 working days (target 90 per cent.) 82.0 95.5 84.8 
			 PEO in 24 hr (target 90 per cent.) 88.0 n/a n/a 
			  Note: These data are not provided under National Statistics protocols. They have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.

Asylum

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what avenues and procedures are available to hon. Members wishing to make representations to decision-makers in the UK Border Agency on longstanding asylum cases.

Alan Johnson: Members of Parliament may make representations to the UK Border Agency on the handling of cases in the following ways: they may write in to the Agency or contact the MP's Enquiry Line or their MP Account Manager and can track the progress of their letters online.

Asylum

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps he has taken to reduce the number of outstanding asylum applications; how many staff have been assigned to this task in the last three months; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: In the last three months there have been around 1,000 members of staff working within the Case Resolution Directorate. I refer to paragraph 15 of Lin Homer's letter to the Home Affairs Select Committee dated 19 October 2009 for our most recent update on progress. Lin Homer will provide a further update to the Committee in February 2010.

Asylum

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms are in place to enable hon. Members to present information to the UK Border Agency on behalf of an asylum applicant in circumstances in which the applicant is unable to provide such information in person.

Alan Johnson: Members of Parliament may make representations to the UK Border Agency about the handling of asylum applications on behalf of the applicant by writing to the UK Border Agency or by contacting the UK Border Agency MPs' Enquiry Line or their MP Account Manager.
	However, MPs are not able to make initial asylum applications on behalf of their constituents and, since the introduction of the requirement to make further representations on asylum claims in person in October 2009, neither are MPs able to submit further submissions on behalf of their constituents, although they can, of course, make representations.

Asylum

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of interviews held with asylum seekers by UK Border Agency staff were  (a) video and  (b) audio recorded in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Asylum interviews are not routinely recorded. In normal circumstances caseowners conducting asylum interviews take a verbatim handwritten record of the interview which is made available to the applicant and their representative. However, where an applicant or their representative asks for their interview to be audio recorded, it is UKBA policy to comply with that request in addition to the provision of a hand written verbatim record.
	There is no central record of the number of cases that are recorded.
	No asylum interviews are video recorded.

Asylum

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of interviews held with asylum seekers by UK Border Agency staff in Cardiff were  (a) video and  (b) audio recorded in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: There is no facility within the UK Border Agency's office in Cardiff for the video recording of interviews with asylum seekers. While there is no legal requirement for such interviews to be recorded by means of audio, where a request to do so is made either by the applicant or their legal representative it is the practice of the UK Border Agency to comply with the request. This is in addition to the provision of a hand written verbatim record.

Asylum: Compensation

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department paid in compensation to the families of asylum seekers  (a) in total and  (b) in respect of unlawful detention in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: The Home Office prepares its accounts in accordance with UK GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) adapted for the public sector in accordance with guidance issued by HM Treasury.
	The information is not collated in the way requested.

Asylum: Detainees

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times on average a failed asylum seeker was transferred between detention centres prior to removal or deportation in the latest period for which figures are available.

Alan Johnson: The information requested could be obtained by undertaking a detailed examination of individual records which would be only at disproportionate cost.
	However, detainees are not routinely moved between centres without an operational reason. This is normally to ensure occupancy levels of the bed space is maximised, to re-position detainees close to airports in preparation for their removal from the UK, to attend court hearings, medical appointments or for an interview.

Asylum: Finance

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers received section 4 support in each region in each quarter since 1 April 2007.

Phil Woolas: Information on section 4 support is published annually and quarterly in the Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom bulletin which is available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html
	We do not publish quarterly statistics by region, but we do hold the data for internal management use. The internal management data do not undergo the same quality assurance processes as published statistics. The following data are provisional and subject to change. Consequently the regional data when totalled is slightly different to the equivalent available published data. It should also be noted that the data relates to numbers that were in receipt of support as at the dates shown and not the total number that received support.
	
		
			  UK Border Agency region  2 July 2007  1 October 2007  31 December 2007  31 March 2008  30 June 2008  6 October 2008  29 December 2008  5 April 2009  29 June 2009  28 September 2009 
			 London and South East 1,546 1,453 1,249 844 527 498 467 446 418 358 
			 Midlands and East 2,791 2,682 2,462 2,602 2,855 3,115 3,351 3,657 3,886 4,100 
			 North East, Yorkshire and the Humber 2,673 2,743 2,888 3,092 3,339 3,443 3,435 3,593 3,749 3,912 
			 North West 1,382 1,508 1,467 1,643 1,699 1,782 1,599 1,667 1,742 1,908 
			 Scotland and Northern Ireland 372 412 435 486 520 604 599 704 830 898 
			 Wales and South West 735 825 809 755 769 818 808 822 863 927 
		
	
	The data from April 2007 to July 2007 was previously recorded on a different system and subsequently migrated over. We are therefore not satisfied that these figures are sufficiently robust for release and have been omitted.

Asylum: Housing

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 21 October 2009,  Official Report, column 1529W, on asylum: housing, how much has been spent on each of the 30 contracts for providing housing for asylum seekers.

Phil Woolas: The following table details expenditure from the onset of contracts in 2006 until 29 November 2009. The total figures have been taken from internal management information and the figures for provider spend have not been specifically audited independently. Figures have been rounded to one decimal point. Four of the contracts are no longer operational.
	
		
			  Accommodation costs 2006-09 
			  Supplier  Total (£ million) 
			 Angel Group (NE) 14.9 
			 Angel Group (Scotland) 26.2 
			 Angel Group (Y and H) 46.2 
			 Astonbrook (SW) 6.3 
			 Astonbrook Housing Ass(Wales) 6.0 
			 Astonbrook Housing Ass(WM) 15.9 
			 Cardiff CC (Wales) 14.5 
			 Clearsprings (EofE) 8.2 
			 Clearsprings (LDN) 27.4 
			 Clearsprings (SE) 8.8 
			 Clearsprings (SW) 18.0 
			 Clearsprings (Wales) 19.2 
			 North West Consortium 36.9 
			 West Midlands Consortium 28.7 
			 Y and H Consortium 72.0 
			 Glasgow City Council 51.1 
			 Happy Homes UK Limited 37.3 
			 Jomast 6.0 
			 Kimberly Group 14.2 
			 Liverpool City Council 14.3 
			 NECARS 38.6 
			 NIHE 2.7 
			 Nottingham City Council 19.0 
			 Priority Properties (EM) 10.2 
			 Priority Properties (NW) 20.5 
			 Priority Properties (WM) 27.9 
			 Priority Properties (Y and H) 19.5 
			 Refugee HA Ltd 10.9 
			 Swansea City Council 3.5 
			 United Property MGMT (LDN) 19.5 
			 United Property MGMT (NW) 26.4 
			 United Property MGMT (WM) 41.7 
			 United Property MGMT (YH) 25.8 
			 YMCA Glasgow (Scotland) 13.8 
		
	
	Additional payments of £3.6 million and £2.0 million were paid to Angel and Clearsprings respectively for the provision of Section 4 accommodation spread between their regional contracts.

Borders: Personal Records

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of passenger movements were tracked by the e-Borders Programme in each month of  (a) 2007,  (b) 2008 and  (c) 2009.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 14 December 2009
	The e-Borders programme formally commenced in May 2009 and the current figure (when annualised) shows that we are now tracking over 100 million passenger movements through the UK border. This represents 45 to 50 per cent. of all passenger movements into and out of the UK (pending formal verification by statisticians).
	Percentage figures for passenger movements were not recorded during the period in question, however the following tables show total numbers of passenger movements tracked for each month over the years 2007-09. These include the figures prior to May 2009, when the pilot project (Semaphore) was under development and testing.
	
		
			  2007 Project Semaphore 
			   Total passenger movements 
			 January 1,664,301 
			 February 1,365,681 
			 March 1,546,419 
			 April 1,667,886 
			 May 2,168,559 
			 June 1,970,614 
			 July 2,134,620 
			 August 2,971,664 
			 September 2,363,670 
			 October 3,047,213 
			 November 2,180,352 
			 December 2,354,641 
			 Total 25,435,620 
		
	
	
		
			  2008 Project Semaphore 
			   Total passenger movements 
			 January 2,795,104 
			 February 2,286,904 
			 March 2,585,127 
			 April 3,276,999 
			 May 2,587,554 
			 June 2,838,955 
			 July 3,875,956 
			 August 3,101,125 
			 September 2,706,082 
			 October 3,110,224 
			 November 2,110,082 
			 December 2,822,786 
			 Total 34,096,898 
		
	
	
		
			  2009 Semaphore/e-borders 
			   Total passenger movements 
			 January 1,970,860 
			 February 1,930,528 
			 March 3,213,046 
			 April 2,960,390 
			 May(1) 4,562,469 
			 June 6,346,031 
			 July 7,271,862 
			 August 9,770,483 
			 September 7,340,892 
			 October 7,029,099 
			 November 7,348,671 
			 December 6,504,617 
			 Total 66,248948 
			 (1) e-Borders went live on 15 May 2009.

Borders: Personal Records

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department plans to launch its 12-week consultation on the UK Border Agency's authority to carry scheme.

Phil Woolas: The Government have committed to a full consultation period on the introduction of an Authority To Carry (ATC) scheme. This will be in advance of introducing regulations for approval, by each House of Parliament, on how any scheme would operate. No decisions have been made as to when this might take place.
	In 2011, as part of the wider rollout of e-Borders, the capability to support a manual ATC process is expected to be delivered.

British Nationality: Northern Ireland

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Nationality Checking Service to be available in Northern Ireland.

Phil Woolas: Nationality Checking Service is undertaken by local authorities on a voluntary basis. To date, no local authority in Northern Ireland has opted to provide the service and when they do so is a matter for them.

Burglary

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been  (a) arrested for,  (b) charged with and  (c) convicted of aggravated burglary in (i) the Ribble Valley, (ii) Lancashire and (iii) England and Wales in each of the last five years.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 4 February 2010
	The arrests collection held by the Home Office covers arrests for recorded crime (notifiable offences) only, broken down at a main offence group level, covering categories such as violence against the person and robbery.
	From these data it is not possible to separate specific offences therefore data on arrests for aggravated burglary cannot be provided.
	Figures provided by the Ministry of Justice, showing the number of persons prosecuted and convicted for aggravated burglary offences in Lancashire, and England and Wales 2004 to 2008 (latest available) can be viewed in the table.
	Figures for Ribble Valley are not separately identifiable from the data on prosecutions reported to the Ministry of Justice.
	It is not possible to separately identify aggravated burglary from the information on arrests reported to the Home Office.
	
		
			  Persons prosecuted and convicted for aggravated burglary offences 2004 to 2008( 1, 2, 3) 
			   Prosecuted  Convicted at all courts 
			   2004  2005  2006  2007  2008  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			  Lancashire   
			 Aggravated burglary in a dwelling 38 51 51 28 52 4 16 15 15 15 
			 Aggravated burglary in a building other than a dwelling 1 3 0 4 - - 1 - - 2 
			
			  England and Wales   
			 Aggravated burglary in a dwelling 980 929 817 724 927 264 218 230 234 275 
			 Aggravated burglary in a building other than a dwelling 143 89 65 67 61 20 27 18 30 17 
			 (1) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (2 )Excludes prosecutions and convictions data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July, and August 2008. (3 )The data are on principal offence basis.  Source:  Justice Statistics Analytical Services-Ministry of Justice.

Burglary: Sussex

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes of burglary were recorded in each police division in Sussex in each year since 2005.

Alan Campbell: The available information is given in the table. With effect from 2006-07, the divisions of East Downs and Hastings and Rother were combined to form East Sussex division.
	
		
			  Offences of burglary recorded by police divisions in Sussex 
			  Number of offences 
			  Police division  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Brighton and Hove 2,850 2,207 2,269 2,273 
			 East Downs 2,716 n/a n/a n/a 
			 East Sussex n/a 4,247 3,384 3,461 
			 Gatwick 35 20 12 24 
			 Hastings and Rother 2,086 n/a n/a n/a 
			 North Downs 2,587 2,460 2,296 2,198 
			 West Downs 3,158 3,207 3,172 2,871 
			 Total 13,432 12,141 11,133 10,827 
			 n/a = Not applicable.

Business: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to extend to small businesses in Essex the fund to provide grants to help small retailers combat crime affecting their businesses; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: The £5 million Small Retailers' Capital Grants fund was made available for 2009-10 to provide physical crime reduction measures for small independent shops in 50 priority areas, to help reduce incidents of shoplifting and other crimes against retailers. There are currently no plans to extend the availability to other areas, but through the National Retail Crime Steering Group (NRCSG)'s Action Plan, we are taking action that will help to tackle retail crime in every area.
	The NRCSG was set up by the Home Office in partnership with the British Retail Consortium and it provides a forum for Government, law enforcement agencies and retailers' representatives such as the Association of Convenience Stores and Federation of Small Businesses to discuss and devise action to tackle crimes of concern to retailers.

Cocaine

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information his Department holds on changes in the pattern of cocaine use in the last 10 years.

Alan Campbell: The most reliable measure of the prevalence of use of drugs is the British Crime Survey (BCS). In 2008/09, the latest full year for which data are available, the proportion of respondents aged 16 to 59 reporting the use of cocaine on at least one occasion in the last year was 3.0 per cent. For cocaine powder, the figure was 3.0 per cent. and for crack cocaine 0.1 per cent.
	Data from the 1998 BCS show that 1.3 per cent. of respondents reported the use of cocaine in the last year (1.2 per cent. cocaine powder; 0.1 per cent. crack cocaine).
	Following sharp increases in cocaine use recorded during the late 1990s, the level of use has remained broadly stable since 2000, although the rate of increase between 2007-08 and 2008-09 is statistically significant.

Crime

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) fixed penalty notices,  (b) conditional cautions and  (c) public disorder notices were issued in England and Wales in each year since 2005.

Alan Campbell: Information on the number of fixed penalty notices for motoring offences issued from 2005 to 2007 can be found in table A. Data on fixed penalty notices for 2008 are scheduled to be published on 15 April 2010.
	Information provided by the Ministry of Justice, on the number of penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) issued in England and Wales 2005 to 2008 can be viewed in table B.
	Data on conditional cautions are not available as they are not separately identified in the data on cautions reported to the Ministry of Justice.
	
		
			  Table A: Number of fixed penalty notices issued for motoring offences, England and Wales 2005-07 
			   Number of fixed penalty notices issued( 1) 
			 2005 3,203,000 
			 2006 3,018,000 
			 2007 2,627,000 
			 (1) Figures rounded to the nearest thousand 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: N umber of penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) issued to offenders of ages 16 and over in England and Wales, 2005-08( 1) 
			   Total PNDs issued( 2) 
			 2005 146,481 
			 2006 201,197 
			 2007 207,544 
			 2008 176,164 
			 (1) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (2) PNDs were rolled out nationally on 1 April 2004.  Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services-Ministry of Justice. Ref: 071-10

Crime

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the average  (a) number and  (b) proportion of crimes committed by an offender in the geographical area within 20 miles of the home address of that offender in the last 12 months.

Alan Campbell: No estimates have been made centrally about crimes committed in relation to addresses of offenders.

Crime Prevention

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has undertaken on the efficacy of crime prevention measures in respect of persons who have an acquired brain injury; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 18 January 2010
	The Home Office has not commissioned any research into this topic.

Crime Prevention: Expenditure

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department spent on national awareness campaigns relating to  (a) gang crime,  (b) gun crime and  (c) terrorism in each of the last five years.

Alan Johnson: In the last five years the Home Office has spent no money on national awareness campaigns relating to  (a) gang crime,  (b) gun crime and  (c) terrorism. Spending on awareness raising campaigns has been focused at a local and regional level.
	In September 2008 the Home Office produced the leaflet You and Your Child-Advice for Parents on Gangs, this was a regional communication only although was made available on the Direct.gov website.
	The Home Office has funded a national awareness campaign around the possession of knives (as opposed to gangs or guns) with the message 'It doesn't have to happen'. Viral adverts online and on mobiles have received 11 million views.
	In addition, billboards were displayed in 85 community sites across the country and reached millions of 10 to 16-year-olds. In November, 'It Doesn't Have To Happen' was awarded the best public sector and charity campaign at the prestigious Campaign 2009 Media Awards.
	In addition, through the Tackling Violence Action Plan, the Home Office has provided funding to the third sector organisation 'Be Safe'. 'Be Safe' undertakes weapons awareness workshops with young people to raise awareness of the consequences of carrying weapons, particularly knives.

Crime: Feltham

Alan Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what the level of recorded crime was in Hounslow constabulary area in  (a) 1997 and  (b) the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many  (a) recorded crimes,  (b) recorded violent crimes,  (c) burglaries and  (d) vehicle thefts there were in Feltham and Heston in (i) 1997 and (ii) the latest year for which information is available.

Alan Campbell: Recorded crime data is not collected specifically at constituency level and data is therefore not available for Feltham and Heston. The available data covers the most appropriate Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) area which is Hounslow.
	Since CDRP data is only available from 1999-2000 onwards, figures for 1997 cannot be provided. Data for Hounslow for 2008-09 are given in the table.
	
		
			  Selected offences recorded by the police in Hounslow 2008-09 
			  Offence  Number of offences 
			 Total recorded crime 23,745 
			 Violence against the person 5,550 
			 Burglary 2,593 
			  Of which:-  
			 Domestic burglary 1,770 
			 Other burglary 823 
			 Vehicle thefts 2,894 
			  Of which:-  
			 Theft of a vehicle 812 
			 Theft from a vehicle 2,082

Crime: Feltham

Alan Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department spent on programmes to tackle the misuse of drugs in Feltham and Heston in  (a) 1997-98 and  (b) 2008-09.

Alan Campbell: In 2008-09, the Home Office provided funding of £806,158 to Hounslow Drug Action Team through the Drug Interventions Programme (DIP) Main Grant. The constituency for Feltham and Heston comes under the London borough of Hounslow. DIP also made an allocation of £6.4 million to the Metropolitan Police Service for drug testing in 2008-09. Some of the £6.4 million would have been used to fund drug testing in the borough of Hounslow; the level of resource provided to Hounslow was decided centrally by the Metropolitan Service.
	DIP is a key part of the Government's strategy for tackling drugs and reducing crime. The programme is delivered locally via drug action teams using integrated teams known as criminal justice integrated teams supported by regional Government office leads and the National Treatment Agency. Using a case management approach they aim to offer access to treatment and support.
	A number of specific and individual Home Office grants have been combined into area-based grant (ABG), which is allocated to local authorities on a three-year basis to maximise stability and certainty. The receiving authorities have flexibility to use ABG as they see fit to deliver local, regional and national priorities in their respective areas.
	Funding data for 1997-98 is not readily available.

Crime: Statistics

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions the methodology used in the compilation of national crime statistics has been changed or redefined since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: Home Office Counting Rules (HOCR) underpin the standards for the recording and counting of notifiable offences recorded by police forces in England and Wales (known as 'recorded crime').
	There have been two major changes to the methodology used for the compilation of crime statistics since 1997. In April 1998 the HOCR were amended to count crimes on a per victim rather than per offence basis, with also significant extension of the coverage of offences included in the notifiable list.
	In April 2002 the HOCR were revised to take account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) which was adopted with the aim of recording crime in a more victim-focused way and maintaining greater consistency between police forces in the recording of crime. The change meant that where a crime is reported by a victim to the police it will be recorded unless there is credible evidence to the contrary.

Crimes of Violence

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many violent crimes against the person have been recorded by police forces in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years.

Alan Campbell: The National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) was introduced in April 2002 and figures before and after that date are not directly comparable.
	The requested data for 1999-2000 to 2001-02 are provided in table A and those for 2002-03 to 2008-09 are provided in table B.
	
		
			  Table A: Recorded violence against the person offences, 1999-2000 to 2001-02 
			   Total violence against the person offences 
			 1999-2000 581,034 
			 2000-01 600,913 
			 2001-02 650,326 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Recorded violence against the person offences, 2002-03 to 2008-09 
			   Total violence against the person offences 
			 2002-03(1, 2) 845,078 
			 2003-04 967,228 
			 2004-05 1,048,095 
			 2005-06 1,059,583 
			 2006-07 1,046,167 
			 2007-08 961,099 
			 2008-09(3) 903,442 
			 (1) The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced in April 2002. Figures before and after that date are not directly comparable. (2) Includes the British Transport police from 2002-03 onwards. (3) As in previous years, police figures for the latest year in this table and elsewhere remain subject to change as forces continue to submit further data (e.g. Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary is conducting a quality assurance exercise of all forces' recording of most serious violence offences which may prompt further revisions).

Crimes of Violence: North East

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reports under each category of violent crime have been made in each  (a) local authority area in Tyne and Wear and  (b) police authority in the North East since April 2005; what changes have been made to the definitions of each category in that period; and what discretion police forces have in respect of the categorisation of such crimes.

Alan Campbell: The term 'violent crime' is no longer used. Data are supplied for violence against the person offences. The number of offences recorded by police forces in the North East and for the local authorities of Tyne and Wear for 2005-06 to 200-09 are shown in Tables A to H placed in the House Library.
	The police record offences following the guidance provided by the Home Office Counting Rules. These provide a national standard for the recording and counting of notifiable offences recorded by police forces in England and Wales and help maintain a greater consistency between police forces in the recording of crime. In April 2002 the National Crime Recording Standard principles were introduced so that when a victim reported a crime the police had to record it unless there were credible evidence to the contrary. This removed significant discretion that had previously applied in police recording of crimes.
	In each police force, a Force Crime Registrar (FCR) is responsible for deciding to which offence a particular crime should be recorded. These FCRs, along with representatives of the Home Office, ACPO and HMIC meet regularly to discuss and review the counting rules. These rules are designed to ensure that each police force records crime in a way comparable to other forces.
	The counting rules, and changes to definitions can be viewed at the following link:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/countrules.html
	There have been changes to some of the classifications for violence against the person offences between 2005-06 and 2008-09, which are outlined below. While these changes can affect the number of offences recorded between offence types, they do not affect the total figures for violence against the person offences.
	Offence classifications 5A (inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent), 5B (use of substance or object to endanger life) and 5C (possession of items to endanger life) were introduced from 1 April 2008 and replace classification five (more serious wounding or other act endangering life). Classification 5A was influenced by a clarification in recording rules that had the effect of significantly increasing levels of recording in some forces. More information on this is given in Volume 2 to Crime in England and Wales 2008/09 at the following link.
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/hosb1109vol2.pdf
	Offence classifications 8F (inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent), 8G (actual bodily harm and other injury), 8H (racially or religiously aggravated inflicting GBH without intent), 8J (racially or religiously aggravated ABH or other injury) and 8K (poisoning or female genital mutilation) were introduced from 1 April 2008 and had previously been recorded as part of classifications 8A (less serious wounding) or 8D (racially or religiously aggravated less serious wounding).
	Offence classifications 3A (conspiracy to murder) and 3B (threats to kill) were introduced from 1 April 2008 and had previously been recorded as classification 3 (threat or conspiracy to murder).
	Offence classifications 10A (possession of firearms with intent), 10C (possession of other weapons) and 10D (possession of article with blade or point) were introduced from one April 2008 and had previously been recorded as classification 8B (possession of weapons).
	Offence classifications 8L (harassment) and 9A (public fear, alarm or distress) were introduced from 1 April 2008 and had previously been recorded as classification 8C (harassment/public fear, alarm or distress).
	Offence classifications 8M (racially or religiously aggravated harassment) and 9B (racially or religiously aggravated public fear, alarm or distress) were introduced from 1 April 2008 and had previously been recorded as classification 8E (racially or religiously aggravated harassment/public fear, alarm or distress).

Crimes of Violence: Police Cautions

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what proportion of incidents of  (a) rape and  (b) violence against the person reported in the last five years a caution was issued.

Alan Campbell: The requested data for the number of incidents of rape and violence against the person for each year from 2004-05 to 2008-09 are provided by the Ministry of Justice and shown in Tables A (rape offences) and B (violence against the person offences).
	The number of offenders cautioned for offences of rape and violence against the person in England and Wales from 2004 to 2008 (latest available) are given in Tables A1 and B1 respectively.
	Cautions and court proceedings data for 2009 are expected to be published in the autumn, 2010.
	
		
			  Table A: Reported offences for rape( 1) , 2004-05 to 2008-09 
			   Total number 
			 2004-05 14,013 
			 2005-06 14,443 
			 2006-07 13,774 
			 2007-08 12,639 
			 2008-09 13,133 
			 (1) The Sexual Offences Act 2003 introduced in May 2004 altered the definition and coverage of sexual offences. A small number of offences continue to be recorded relating to offences repealed by the Act; while these may continue to be legitimately recorded for offences prior to May 2004 it is also possible that some may have been recorded in these old categories in error, so recent changes based on small numbers should be interpreted with caution. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table A1: Cautions issued for offences of rape, England and Wales, 2004 to 2008( 1, 2, 3) 
			   Total number 
			 2004 40 
			 2005 22 
			 2006 24 
			 2007 34 
			 2008 36 
			 (1 )The cautions statistics in table A1 relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time the principal offence is the more serious offence.  (2) From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and final warnings. These figures have been included in the totals.  (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.   Source:  Justice Statistics Analytical Services-Ministry of Justice. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Reported violence against the person offences, 2004-05 to 2008-09 
			   Total number 
			 2004-05 1,048,095 
			 2005-06 1,059,585 
			 2006-07 1,046,168 
			 2007-08 961,175 
			 2008-09 903,993 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B1: Cautions issued for violence against the person offences, England and Wales, 2004 to 2008( 1, 2, 3) 
			   Total number 
			 2004 36,610 
			 2005 51,020 
			 2006 57,273 
			 2007 52,334 
			 2008 37,613 
			 (1) The cautions statistics given in table B1 relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time the principal offence is the more serious offence.  (2) From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and final warnings. These figures have been included in the totals.  (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.   Source:  Justice Statistics Analytical Services-Ministry of Justice.

Dangerous Dogs

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints have been made to the police in each police authority area in respect of attacks by dogs in each of the last five years; how many such complaints resulted in prosecutions; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The information requested is not collected centrally as there is no requirement for police forces to report attacks by dogs to the Home Office.
	The police are required to notify the Home Office of offences recorded under sections 3(1) and 3(3) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. These offences relate to an owner or person in charge allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place injuring any person or allowing a dog to enter a non-public place and injure any person. However, such offences would be included in the offence classification 'Actual bodily harm and other injury' and cannot be separately identified from other offences recorded under that classification.

Departmental Accountancy

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any written instructions have been provided to his Department's Accounting Officer in accordance with paragraph 5.5 of the Ministerial Code since May 1997.

Phil Woolas: The Department has not received any written instructions in respect of paragraph 5.5 of the Ministerial Code since May 1997.

Departmental Billing

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the average length of time taken by  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies to pay invoices from (i) small and medium-sized enterprises and (ii) all creditors in the last 12 months.

Phil Woolas: The Home Office implemented the Prime Minister's commitment to pay all small and medium enterprises (SMEs) within 10 days in October 2008.
	The Home Office has invested significantly in its people with the creation of a professional Shared Service Centre and Procurement Centre of Excellence complemented by the creation of new processes and upgraded Procure to Pay systems. The Department has put a firm focus on paying its suppliers on time on receipt of a compliant invoice. It has worked closely with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills reporting on both its legislative obligations of 30 days as well as the 10 day PM's commitment for SMEs.
	The Home Office has recently converted all of its suppliers to 10-day payment terms and will be reporting on this from 1 February 2010.
	The latest Home Office performance information for paying the invoices of all creditors within 30 days and paying SME compliant invoices within 10 days in January 2010 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Table 1: The Home Office performance of paying total number of invoices within 30 days and SME compliant invoices within 10 days for January 2010 
			   Home Office and UKBA 
			 Total number of all invoices paid 4,512 
			 Percentage of total number of all invoices paid within 30 days 90 
			   
			 Number of SMEs' compliant invoices paid within 10 days 1,080 
			 Percentage of SMEs' compliant invoices paid with 10 days 99 
		
	
	The latest available performance information from the Criminal Records Bureau for paying the invoices of all creditors and SME compliant invoices within 10 days in December 2009 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Table 2: CRB performance of paying invoices within 10 days for December 2009 
			  Month  Total number of all invoices paid  Percentage of total number of all invoices paid within 10 days  Number of SMEs' compliant invoices paid within 10 days  Percentage of SMEs' compliant invoices paid within 10 days 
			 January 2010 284 39 109 89 
		
	
	Performance information from the Identity and Passport Service is that between April 2009 and January 2010 SME compliant invoices were on average paid within 12 days and the invoices of all remaining creditors were on average paid within 19 days.

Departmental Drinking Water

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department has spent on bottled drinking water in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: The requested information cannot be obtained, without incurring disproportionate cost.
	The Department is committed to reducing the environmental impact of its official activities. The Department's policy is not to supply bottled water unless it is essential for health and safety reasons.

Departmental Employment Agencies

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many job vacancies in his Department and its agencies were filled through the use of external recruitment companies in the latest year for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: During the period 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009, the Home Office and its agencies (the UK Border Agency, the Identity and Passport Service and the Criminal Records Bureau) filled 461 vacancies with permanent staff, fixed term appointments or casuals recruited through the use of external recruitment companies.
	Of these 461 vacancies, 318 were Immigration caseworker jobs that arose in the UK Border Agency as a result of the move to regionalise case working and move jobs outside London, in line with the recommendation of the Gershon review.
	The total of 461 vacancies filled through the use of external recruitment companies in 2008-09 represents less than 10 per cent. of the overall total number of advertised vacancies filled with permanent staff, fixed term appointments and casuals within the Home Office and its agencies during that period. The vast majority of vacancies were, therefore, filled through internal and cross-Government trawls.

Departmental Employment Agencies

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department and its agencies spent on external recruitment companies in the latest year for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: The information held centrally by Home Office on recruitment is not broken down in sufficient detail to identify expenditure on external recruitment companies. The requested information could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Departmental Empty Property

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough of 18 January 2010,  Official Report, column 29W, on departmental buildings, what the  (a) book value and  (b) estimated annual rental value is of the vacant residential property owned by his Department.

Phil Woolas: Since my Department is in the process of selling vacant residential property, no estimates have been made of potential rental value. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 14 December 2009,  Official Report, column 715W on the property's book value.

Departmental Energy

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the estimated  (a) amount and  (b) cost was of energy used in his Department and its agencies in each year since 1997; what proportion of the energy used was generated from renewable sources in each of those years; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Central Government Departments and their Executive agencies report performance data on the energy consumed and amount sourced from renewable sources annually as part of the Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate targets. The latest assessment of the Department's performance against these targets was published by the Sustainable Development Commission on 18 December 2009
	http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/soge2009/
	The Department's structure and its estate has changed considerably since 1997 and it does not hold comprehensive information for the last 13 years, covering  (a) amount and  (b) cost of the total energy consumed, and the proportion sourced from renewable sources for the Home Office estate and its agencies.

Departmental Manpower

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the proportion of staff of  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies managed out in the last five years who remain working in the public sector.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is not held centrally.

Departmental Mobile Phones

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) mobile telephones and  (b) Blackberrys were provided to (i) Ministers and (ii) special advisers in his Department in 2009; and at what cost to the public purse.

Phil Woolas: Blackberrys are issued to all Ministers and special advisers of the Home Department. A total of 11 Blackberrys were issued in 2009.
	It is not possible ascertain total expenditure without incurring disproportionate costs.

Departmental Pay

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff in his Department received bonus payments in each of the last five years for which information is available; what proportion of the total workforce they represented; what the total amount of bonuses paid was; what the largest single payment was; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Non-consolidated performance payments are an integral element of the staff reward package in the Home Office. They have to be re-earned each year and do not add to future pay bill and pensions costs.
	The Home Office (including the United Kingdom Border Agency), as part of its annual pay arrangements, pays end-of-year non-consolidated performance-related payments to up to 35 per cent. of its staff. There are separate arrangements for the Department's senior staff, which are set by the Prime Minister for the whole senior civil service, following independent advice from the Senior Salaries Review Body.
	In the financial years for which information is available the total amount paid in end-of-year payments, the average and the largest single payments were:
	
		
			   Number of staff in post  Total number of staff in receipt  Largest single award (£000)  Total paid (£ million)  Total salary bill for year (£ million)  Average payment (£)  Payments as % of salary bill 
			 2005-06 22,670 4,785 15 4.28 752 894 0.56 
			 2006-07 21,630 5,097 15 4.45 723 873 0.61 
			 2007-08 22,380 5,647 20 4.48 710 793 0.63 
			 2008-09 21.460 6,164 22 4.75 791 771 0.60 
			 2009-10 21,360 6,081 15 5.69 815 935 0.69 
			 Notes: 1. The 2008-09 figure is the figure at end September 2008.  2. The 2009-10 figure is the Home Office internal headcount at 31 July 2008.  3. The 2009-10 salary figure is the current year end estimate.  Source: The staff in post figures come from ONS Headcount statistics. 
		
	
	It is also possible to give one-off special payments to members of staff in-year to reward exceptional achievements on a project or programme. In 2007, 3,702 staff received such a payment at a total cost of £2.56 million; in 2008, 2,863 staff received such a payment at a cost of £1.16 million. Figures for 2009-10 are not yet available. Figures for previous years cannot be provided except at disproportionate cost.

Deportation: Offenders

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign prisoners convicted of an offence of  (a) illegal gun possession and  (b) drug dealing have been deported to their country of origin in each year since 1998.

Alan Johnson: The UK Border Agency is committed to ensuring that we remove those foreign nationals who pose a risk of harm to our society. We are targeting the most harmful first and any non-EEA national who receives a custodial sentence of 12 months or more is now subject to automatic deportation proceedings. In addition any non-EEA national who goes to prison for serious drug and gun offences no matter how long their sentence, will face deportation action as well as those, no matter the type of crime, who have received several custodial sentences totalling 12 months or more. EEA nationals convicted of gun or drugs offences will face deportation action if they are sentenced to 12 months or more in prison.
	In her letter to the Home Affairs Committee in July 2009 the chief executive stated that of the 5,400 foreign criminals removed or deported in 2008, 1,600 were drug offenders; more than 550 were convicted of the production or supply of drugs, over 350 convicted of possession with intent to supply drugs and over 600 were convicted of the importation of drugs. In a letter of October 2009 she further advised that of the 2,560 foreign criminals removed in quarters 1 to 2 of 2009, 680 drug offenders removed; 316 were convicted of the production or supply of drugs, over 140 convicted of possession with intent to supply drugs, and over 200 were convicted of the importation of drugs. The UK Border Agency does not routinely record the number of foreign nationals removed following a conviction for 'illegal gun possession'. Figures for 1998 to 2007 are not available.
	The chief executive is due to write to the Committee again in February. Copies of the letter will be available in the Library of the House.

Deportation: Sri Lanka

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Sri Lankan citizens have been deported since 1 May 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The following table shows the number of nationals of Sri Lanka removed or departed voluntarily from May 2009 to September 2009, by type of departure.
	Figures for the fourth quarter of 2009 will be published on 25 February 2010.
	The Home Office publishes statistics on the number of persons removed or departed voluntarily from the UK on a quarterly and annual basis, which are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html
	
		
			  Removals and voluntary departures( 1) , by type, nationals of Sri Lanka, May 2009 to September 2009 
			  Number of departures( 2) 
			   May 2009( 3)  June 2009( 3)  July 2009( 3)  August 2009( 3)  September 2009( 3)  Total( 3) 
			 Removals and voluntary departures, nationals of Sri Lanka 50 45 55 60 40 250 
			 Of which:   
			 Enforced removals and notified voluntary departures 15 10 20 15 10 70 
			 Assisted voluntary returns(4) 10 15 15 10 15 65 
			 Other voluntary departures 5 - 10 15 5 40 
			 Non-asylum cases refused entry at port and subsequently removed(5) 20 20 10 20 10 75 
			 (1) Figures are rounded to the nearest 5 (-= 0, *= 1 or 2) and may not sum to the totals shown because of independent rounding. (2) Removals and voluntary departures recorded on the system as at the dates on which the data extracts were taken. (3) Provisional figures. Figures will under record due to data cleansing and data matching exercises that take place after the extracts are taken. (4) Persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return programmes run by the International Organization for Migration. May include some on-entry cases and some cases where enforcement action has been initiated. (5) Figures include persons departing voluntarily after enforcement action had been initiated against them, cases dealt with at juxtaposed controls, removals performed by Immigration Officers at ports using enforcement powers and since 2005 a small number of cases who it has been established left the UK without informing the immigration authorities.

Detainees: Sri Lanka

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Sri Lankan citizens are being held in detention in  (a) prison and  (b) immigration removal centres.

Phil Woolas: As at 18 December 2009 there were 152 Sri Lankans in prison establishments. This includes those held under the Immigration Act 1971 (including those in the immigration removal centres Dover, Haslar and Lindholme) as well as those held on remand or serving custodial sentences. This figure was published in the December 2009 monthly population bulletin on the HM Prison Service website:
	http://www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk/resourcecentre/publicationsdocuments/index.asp?cat=85
	As at 30 September 2009 there were 45 Sri Lankans detained in the United Kingdom solely under Immigration Act Powers. Of these, 20 were detained in Dover, Haslar and Lindholme. These figures have been rounded to the nearest five consistent with the usual publication practice. Information on persons detained under Immigration Act powers is published in the Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Summary, United Kingdom-3rd Quarter 2009 publication which is available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html
	The latest information for 31 December 2009 will be published on the 25 February 2010.

DNA: Databases

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many criminals convicted before the creation of the National DNA Database had given a DNA sample to police.

Alan Campbell: The National DNA Database (NDNAD) does not contain information about criminal records, as this is not necessary for its function of matching DNA from crime scenes with DNA from individuals. Criminal record information is held on the Police National Computer (PNC). The first conviction in a case where DNA profiling was used occurred in 1988. Between this date and the establishment of the NDNAD in 1995, DNA profiling was applied in a relatively small number of cases. We do not have any records of DNA operations which indicate how many criminals convicted during this period had given a DNA sample.
	Data obtained from the PNC on 31 March 2009 indicates that there were 2,312,289 persons with a record on PNC added by an English or Welsh force who had a conviction, caution, reprimand or final warning, but no record on NDNAD. This includes individuals who have records relating to convictions, etc, before 1995.
	Breakdowns of the number of persons with a record of a conviction, caution, reprimand or final warning on PNC, which show (a) that the conviction, etc, occurred before 1995, and (b) that the person either does or does not have a record on the NDNAD, could only be produced at disproportionate cost.

DNA: Databases

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people under  (a) 16,  (b) 18 and  (c) 21 years old had their profile stored on the National DNA Database on 1 January 2010.

Alan Campbell: The figures given in the table show the number of subject profiles held on the National DNA Database (NDNAD) as at 31 December 2009 for police forces in England and Wales. It is broken down by current age for people aged under 16, under 18 and under 21 years old.
	The number of subject profiles is not the same as the number of individuals. A proportion of DNA profiles held on the NDNAD are replicates, that is, a profile for a person has been loaded on more then one occasion (this may be because the person gave different names, or different versions of their name, on separate arrests, or because of upgrading of profiles). As at 31 December 2009, it was estimated that 13.9 per cent. of profiles held on the NDNAD are replicates. As the replication rate is calculated across the entire database, it is not possible to apply it to the number of profiles in each age group, to provide the number of individuals in that group.
	The presence of these replicate profiles on the NDNAD does not impact on the effectiveness and integrity of the database.
	The data presented are based on a snapshot of the NDNAD as at 31 December 2009. The data on the NDNAD are constantly changing as records are added and removed, hence the figures are a snapshot of contents at a single point in time. The data are management information and have not been formally assessed for compliance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.
	
		
			  Subject profiles held on the NDNAD taken by police forces in England and Wales as at 31 December 2009, broken down by current age 
			  Current age  Number of s ubject profiles 
			 Under 16 113,330 
			 Under 18 300,798 
			 Under 21 761,221

DNA: Databases

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people from each ethnic minority had a profile stored on the National DNA Database on 1 January 2010.

Alan Campbell: The National DNA Database (NDNAD) does not hold self-reported ethnicity data, however, it does hold data on the ethnic appearance of persons who have a DNA profile on the database. The ethnic appearance data have six broad ethnic categories plus unknown. They are based on the judgment of the police officer taking the sample and are recorded for police intelligence purposes to assist in subsequent identification.
	The following table shows the number of DNA profiles on the NDNAD added by English and Welsh police forces, broken down by ethnic appearance, as at 31 December 2009. Unknown means that no ethnic appearance was recorded by the officer taking the sample.
	The number of profiles held is not the same as the number of individuals. This is because some profiles are replicates-i.e. more than one profile is held for one individual. This may occur if, for example, an individual gives different names, or different versions of their name, on separate arrests. As at 31 December 2009, it was estimated that 13.9 per cent. of the subject profiles held on the entire NDNAD were replicates. As the replication rate is calculated across the entire database, it is not possible to apply it to the number of profiles of each ethnic appearance group to provide the number of individuals in that group.
	The data presented are based on a snapshot of the NDNAD as at 31 December 2009. The data on the NDNAD are constantly changing as records are added and removed, hence the figures are a snapshot of contents at a single point in time. The data are management information and have not been formally assessed for compliance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.
	
		
			  Ethnic appearance  Subject profiles 
			 Unknown 278,630 
			 Asian 324,787 
			 Black 449,288 
			 Chinese/Japanese/SE Asian 39,979 
			 Middle Eastern 46,987 
			 White-North European 4,388,870 
			 White-South European 112,695 
			 Total profiles 5,641,236 
			 Total individuals (estimated) 4,857,104

Domestic Violence

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the incidence of domestic violence in England and Wales in each of the last 30 years; if he will make it his policy to record domestic violence incidents as a separate crime category; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: There are two sources of data on domestic violence from the British Crime Survey. Estimates of the number of incidents of domestic violence from the face-to-face section of the survey are available from 1981 to 2008-09 and can be found in this table:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/hosb1109tab201.xls
	Because of the nature of these offences, more reliable estimates of domestic violence come from the self-completion section of the survey, but these are only available from 2004-05 onwards. We also only report on the prevalence of domestic violence from the self-completion section, not the incidence. Trends in the prevalence of domestic violence from 2004-05 to 2008-09 can be found in Table 3.06 here:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs10/hosb0110chap3.xls
	The issue of making domestic violence a criminal offence was discussed during the Safety and Justice consultation which led to the introduction of the Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Act 2004. The Government believe that the range of existing criminal legislation, coupled with the definition of domestic violence, is sufficient to ensure the maximum discretion in selecting appropriate criminal charges. CPS also flag all domestic violence related crimes.

Driving Under Influence: Young People

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs by 16 to 24 years olds there were in Milton Keynes in each of the last five years.

Alan Campbell: Statistics on the number of offences recorded for 'causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs' are collected however no details are collected on the age of the offender. The offence classifications within the Police Recorded Crime series are defined by statute. No details on the victim or offender are collected unless specified in the wording of the offence classification. There are a number of sexual offences where this applies; ie sexual assault on a male aged 13 and over or rape of a female child under 13.

Drugs: Crime

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 6 January 2010,  Official Report, column 344W, on drugs: crime, what the equivalent figures are for 2008.

Alan Campbell: Information provided by the Ministry of Justice, showing the number of cautions given for possession of a controlled drug, by class, England and Wales, 1997 to 2008 (latest available), can be viewed in Table 1. The number given for possession with intent to supply can be viewed in Table 2.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of offenders cautioned for possession of a controlled drug, by class, England and Wales, 1997 to 2008( 1,2,3,4) 
			   Class A  Class B  Class C 
			 1997 3,918 48,728 249 
			 1998 4,130 51,515 242 
			 1999 4,266 42,560 164 
			 2000 4,479 34,595 147 
			 2001 4,583 33,182 108 
			 2002 4,563 38,482 149 
			 2003 4,764 38,845 149 
			 2004 5,576 10,114 14,605 
			 2005 7,431 3,621 20,805 
			 2006 10,139 2,746 21,367 
			 2007 13,536 3,262 22,643 
			 2008 15,004 2,967 25,313 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of offenders cautioned for possession with intent to supply a controlled drug, by class, England and Wales, 1997 to 2008( 1,2,3,4) 
			   Class A  Class B  Class C 
			 1997 79 401 19 
			 1998 88 470 10 
			 1999 91 413 8 
			 2000 139 305 7 
			 2001 136 310 5 
			 2002 132 336 5 
			 2003 129 371 6 
			 2004 137 207 280 
			 2005 189 83 477 
			 2006 247 53 519 
			 2007 234 44 457 
			 2008 141 32 324 
			 (1) The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Cannabis was reclassified in January 2004 to a class C drug. From 1997-2004 the class B category includes cannabis; from 2005-08 cannabis is included in class C. (4) Since April 2004 the police may issue an adult offender with a cannabis warning for simple possession of cannabis.  Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services-Ministry of Justice

Entry Clearances

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time was to  (a) process a visa application and  (b) despatch an approved passport following approval of a visa in the last year for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 5 February 2010
	The global average processing time for all visa applications in calendar year 2009 was 13.6 working days. We are unable to provide an average time for despatching a passport to an applicant following a decision to issue a visa. This information is not available from our central records.

Entry Clearances

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people from each country who were classified as having  (a) low and  (b) higher level English language skills overstayed in the UK following admittance under tier 4 of the points-based immigration system in the latest period for which figures are available.

Alan Johnson: The UK Border Agency does not hold records on the level of English language skills held by those granted entry to the country under tier 4 of the points based system. It is the responsibility of the tier 4 sponsor to assess the student's ability to follow a course of study; this includes checking the student's English language ability.

Entry Clearances: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visitors' visas were sponsored by residents of the London Borough of Bexley in the last three years.

Phil Woolas: While sponsor details are kept on individual visa application records, we are unable to accurately identify from central records all applications that have been sponsored by residents of any particular borough.

Entry Clearances: Eastern Europe

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visa officers were employed in  (a) Tirana,  (b) Kiev and  (c) Chisinau in (i) each of the last three years and (ii) 2010 on the latest date for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: The number of entry clearance officers employed at our visa sections in Tirana, Kiev and Chisinau since 2007 have been as follows:
	
		
			  ECOs  2007  2008  2009  2010 
			 Tirana 2.0 2.0 2.4 2.4 
			 Kiev 3.75 3.75 3.75 3.75 
			 Chisinau 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9

Entry Clearances: Families

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for visas for family visitors to the UK have been  (a) granted and  (b) refused in respect of applicants from each (i) African and (ii) Caribbean country in each of the last three years.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is given in the following table. It is based on nationality, not country and is given for each financial year.
	The data are based on management information. They are provisional and subject to change.
	
		
			  Financial year  Group  Nationality  Applications  Issued  Refused  Resolved  Refusal rate (%) 
			  2006   135,557 81,511 52,710 13,4875 39 
			 
			   African  127,435 76,616 49,398 126,627 39 
			   Algeria 4,096 3,440 629 4103 15 
			   Angola 595 434 152 596 26 
			   Benin 68 52 16 68 24 
			   Botswana 89 78 12 91 13 
			   Burkina 27 13 12 27 44 
			   Burundi 37 25 12 37 32 
			   Cameroon 1,603 1,169 420 1,601 26 
			   Cape Verde 45 36 3 44 7 
			   Central African Republic 9 10 1 11 9 
			   Chad 25 16 6 22 27 
			   Comoros 3 3 0 3 0 
			   Congo 300 231 70 304 23 
			   Democratic republic of Congo 1,283 990 287 1,286 22 
			   Djibouti 45 24 19 43 44 
			   Egypt 2,683 2,481 179 2,682 7 
			   Equatorial Guinea 17 14 4 18 22 
			   Eritrea 286 234 64 303 21 
			   Ethiopia 887 501 344 857 40 
			   Gabon 47 40 7 47 15 
			   Gambia 1,287 797 472 1,278 37 
			   Ghana 13,333 7,576 6,083 13,740 44 
			   Guinea 156 95 60 157 38 
			   Guinea-Bissau 52 41 10 52 19 
			   Ivory Coast 525 406 115 522 22 
			   Kenya 5,180 4,527 677 5,216 13 
			   Lesotho 12 3 9 12 75 
			   Liberia 87 64 24 90 27 
			   Libya 2,383 1,988 384 2,385 16 
			   Madagascar 22 22 0 22 0 
			   Malawi 819 572 243 819 30 
			   Mali 37 31 6 37 16 
			   Mauritania 12 10 2 12 17 
			   Mauritius 54 40 16 58 28 
			   Morocco 3,985 3,344 638 4,003 16 
			   Mozambique 202 149 56 209 27 
			   Namibia 11 1 8 9 89 
			   Niger 23 15 7 22 32 
			   Nigeria 69,030 34,437 33,000 67,603 49 
			   Rwanda 84 70 20 90 22 
			   Sao Tome and Principe 33 23 8 33 24 
			   Senegal 134 113 19 133 14 
			   Seychelles 1 1 0 1 0 
			   Sierra Leone 2,362 1,515 795 2,320 34 
			   Somalia 359 199 158 366 43 
			   South Africa 536 197 313 520 60 
			   Sudan 1,594 1,404 153 1,576 10 
			   Swaziland 29 6 22 28 79 
			   Tanzania 1,891 1,712 187 1,910 10 
			   Togo 115 85 30 117 26 
			   Tunisia 733 644 94 738 13 
			   Uganda 1,511 1,017 526 1,551 34 
			   Zambia 1,146 952 171 1,178 15 
			   Zimbabwe 7,552 4,769 2,855 7,677 37 
			 
			   Caribbean  8,122 4,895 3,312 8,248 40 
			   Antigua and Barbuda 1 1 0 1 0 
			   Bahamas 1 1 0 1 0 
			   Barbados 10 6 4 10 40 
			   Cayman Islands 1 1 0 1 0 
			   Cuba 277 262 12 277 4 
			   Dominica 10 8 2 11 18 
			   Dominican Republic 52 48 3 51 6 
			   Grenada 4 2 3 5 60 
			   Haiti 25 20 2 22 9 
			   Honduras 1 0 1 1 100 
			   Jamaica 7,699 4,510 3,280 7,827 42 
			   St Lucia 5 4 1 5 20 
			   St Vincent 2 1 1 2 50 
			   Trinidad and Tobago 34 31 3 34 9 
			 
			 2007   111,709 73,133 40,723 11,4376 36 
			 
			   African  105,905 69,015 38,769 108,229 36 
			   Algeria 4,644 3,855 501 4,390 11 
			   Angola 697 554 128 685 19 
			   Benin 71 46 27 74 36 
			   Botswana 89 62 25 87 29 
			   Burkina 18 13 5 18 28 
			   Burundi 38 27 12 39 31 
			   Cameroon 1,362 1,071 296 1,376 22 
			   Cape Verde 36 25 10 35 29 
			   Central African Republic 17 12 5 17 29 
			   Chad 17 10 11 21 52 
			   Comoros 5 3 2 5 40 
			   Congo 258 176 79 257 31 
			   Democratic republic of Congo 1,194 830 363 1,201 30 
			   Djibouti 28 19 11 30 37 
			   Egypt 2,872 2,622 217 2,847 8 
			   Equatorial Guinea 11 4 6 11 55 
			   Eritrea 288 186 96 289 33 
			   Ethiopia 667 460 219 694 32 
			   Gabon 32 26 6 32 19 
			   Gambia 1,381 846 510 1,371 37 
			   Ghana 11,627 6,344 5,194 11,575 45 
			   Guinea 129 68 53 125 42 
			   Guinea-Bissau 55 32 21 55 38 
			   Ivory Coast 531 377 150 529 28 
			   Kenya 5,006 4,404 568 4,989 11 
			   Lesotho 12 4 7 11 64 
			   Liberia 85 58 25 84 30 
			   Libya 1,918 1,518 368 1,896 19 
			   Madagascar 17 13 2 16 13 
			   Malawi 976 690 257 959 27 
			   Mali 31 23 7 30 23 
			   Mauritania 6 4 2 6 33 
			   Mauritius 24 17 6 24 25 
			   Morocco 2,605 2,311 269 2,602 10 
			   Mozambique 190 125 60 188 32 
			   Namibia 10 0 10 10 100 
			   Niger 14 10 4 14 29 
			   Nigeria 51,355 30,786 23,396 54,267 43 
			   Rwanda 107 66 39 105 37 
			   Sao Tome and Principe 36 18 16 36 44 
			   Senegal 210 149 56 205 27 
			   Seychelles 5 2 3 5 60 
			   Sierra Leone 1,980 1,147 802 1,973 41 
			   Somalia 303 164 125 297 42 
			   South Africa 382 131 251 392 64 
			   Sudan 1,523 1,196 291 1,511 19 
			   Swaziland 11 4 7 11 64 
			   Tanzania 1,982 1,574 379 1,971 19 
			   Togo 91 62 27 90 30 
			   Tunisia 724 627 88 721 12 
			   Uganda 1,630 1,135 485 1,629 30 
			   Zambia 1,297 1,094 191 1,298 15 
			   Zimbabwe 7,308 4,015 3,081 7,126 43 
			 
			   Caribbean  5,804 4,118 1,954 6,147 32 
			   Bahamas 1 0 1 1 100 
			   Barbados 2 1 0 1 0 
			   Cuba 282 243 37 282 13 
			   Dominica 2 1 1 2 50 
			   Dominican Republic 89 73 13 87 15 
			   Grenada 1 1 0 1 0 
			   Haiti 18 15 3 18 17 
			   Honduras 1 1 0 1 0 
			   Jamaica 5,377 3,763 1,891 5,725 33 
			   St Lucia 4 3 0 3 0 
			   St Vincent 3 3 0 3 0 
			   Trinidad and Tobago 24 14 8 23 35 
			 
			 2008   105,206 69,766 34,784 105,182 33 
			   African  100,472 66,240 33,611 100,466 33 
			   Algeria 5,813 4,679 1,298 5,996 22 
			   Angola 831 551 264 829 32 
			   Benin 86 52 28 84 33 
			   Botswana 59 24 35 61 57 
			   Burkina 27 18 7 26 27 
			   Burundi 50 32 15 47 32 
			   Cameroon 1,324 964 294 1,281 23 
			   Cape Verde 50 20 28 48 58 
			   Central African Republic 15 9 6 15 40 
			   Chad 22 15 7 22 32 
			   Comoros 11 4 6 10 60 
			   Congo 232 136 88 227 39 
			   Democratic Republic of Congo 1,058 590 455 1,047 43 
			   Djibouti 43 24 17 41 41 
			   Egypt 3,119 2,762 263 3,040 9 
			   Equatorial Guinea 25 13 11 25 44 
			   Eritrea 268 148 104 258 40 
			   Ethiopia 765 537 225 766 29 
			   Gabon 46 28 18 46 39 
			   Gambia 1,601 868 720 1,599 45 
			   Ghana 9,688 5,534 4,275 9,896 43 
			   Guinea 144 67 72 140 51 
			   Guinea-Bissau 63 19 42 61 69 
			   Ivory coast 453 314 124 445 28 
			   Kenya 5,263 4,596 628 5,255 12 
			   Lesotho 9 4 6 10 60 
			   Liberia 82 48 31 80 39 
			   Libya 2,183 1,878 313 2,253 14 
			   Madagascar 29 27 1 28 4 
			   Malawi 756 448 301 758 40 
			   Mali 41 31 11 42 26 
			   Mauritania 9 4 5 9 56 
			   Mauritius 69 47 18 67 27 
			   Morocco 2,375 1,963 320 2,307 14 
			   Mozambique 197 127 71 199 36 
			   Namibia 8 2 5 9 56 
			   Niger 11 5 5 11 45 
			   Nigeria 44,534 26,491 17,975 44,543 40 
			   Rwanda 106 68 41 109 38 
			   Sao Tome and Principe 49 18 28 46 61 
			   Senegal 305 206 100 307 33 
			   Seychelles 2 2 0 2 0 
			   Sierra Leone 1,780 1,200 565 1,782 32 
			   Somalia 248 105 146 252 58 
			   South Africa 3,488 3149 225 3410 7 
			   Sudan 1,669 1,215 396 1,618 24 
			   Swaziland 8 2 6 8 75 
			   Tanzania 1625 1254 322 1,597 20 
			   Togo 93 60 35 95 37 
			   Tunisia 667 530 112 644 17 
			   Uganda 1,915 1,373 556 1,935 29 
			   Zambia 1,304 1,091 201 1,315 15 
			   Zimbabwe 5,854 2,888 2,786 5,765 48 
			 
			   Caribbean  4,734 3,526 1,173 4,716 25 
			   Antigua and Barbuda 2 1 1 2 50 
			   Bahamas 2 0 2 2 100 
			   Barbados 4 3 1 4 25 
			   Cuba 277 246 29 277 10 
			   Dominica 2 1 1 2 50 
			   Dominican Republic 138 113 17 130 13 
			   Grenada 4 2 2 4 50 
			   Haiti 23 20 1 21 5 
			   Honduras 1 0 1 1 100 
			   Jamaica 4,239 3,128 1,090 4,232 26 
			   St Kitts and Nevis 2 1 1 2 50 
			   St Lucia 15 2 13 15 87 
			   St Vincent 4 2 2 4 50 
			   Trinidad and Tobago 21 7 12 20 60

Entry Clearances: Fees and Charges

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy for fees charged for visas to increase in line with inflation.

Phil Woolas: Current policy is to set visa fees by balancing a number of complex factors, including inflation along with the cost of processing applications, the importance of attracting certain groups of migrants to the UK, and the value of a successful application in terms of entitlements and benefits to the applicant.

Entry Clearances: Indian Subcontinent

Patrick Hall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time taken between the date of adjudication of an entry clearance case in favour of the applicant and the date of issue of a visa at the British High Commission in  (a) New Delhi and  (b) Islamabad was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The UK Border Agency, however, recently issued its visa sections overseas with a target time of eight weeks to conclude the consideration of visa applications after receiving notification of an allowed appeal. The agency will be monitoring the performance of visa sections against this target.

Entry Clearances: Married People

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the appropriateness of the level of fees for spouse settlement visas; and how much revenue accrued from such fees in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: The UK Border Agency's fees for immigration and nationality are reviewed annually.
	The following table shows revenue collected from spousal settlement visas in each of the last five years.
	
		
			  Income from spouse/civil partner visas from 2004-05 to 2008-09 
			   Income  (£000) 
			 2004-05 13,020 
			 2005-06 14,666 
			 2006-07 16,569 
			 2007-08 28,508 
			 2008-09 25,414 
			  Source: Internal management information-International Group

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Patrick Hall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the results of the joint review of student visas by his Department and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to be published.

Phil Woolas: The outcome of the review of Tier 4, announced by the Prime Minister on 12 November 2009, were published on Wednesday 10 February 2010.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of the economic impact of increasing the minimum level at which non-EU students may come to the UK for study from National Qualifications Framework Level 3 to Level 4.

Phil Woolas: The Secretary of State for the Home Department's written ministerial statement of 10 February 2010 provides full details of the recommendations stemming from the Prime Minister's review of tier 4, the student route of the points based system. We will be publishing a full impact assessment on the review in line with implementation.
	We are not increasing the minimum level at which non-EU students may come to the UK for study from National Qualifications Framework level 3 to level 4, however, only education providers that qualify as Highly Trusted Sponsors will be able to offer courses at level three to international students.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many dependants of those with a  (a) student visa and  (b) student visa relating to a course lasting less than six months entered the UK in 2008.

Phil Woolas: The available statistics show that 20,300 dependants of students (excluding EEA and Swiss nationals) were given leave to enter the United Kingdom, in 2008.
	It is not possible to determine, from the systems used to produce these statistics on those given leave to enter the UK, how many of those admitted as dependants of students were dependants of students on a course lasting less than six months.
	The Secretary of State for the Home Department's written statement of 10 February 2010,  Official Report, column 58WS contains details of the recommendations stemming from the Prime Minister's review of tier 4, and this statement includes further details of the restrictions we are placing on the dependants of certain students.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the likely effects on student visitors of implementing the changes proposed in the recent review of Tier 4 of the points-based immigration system.

Phil Woolas: As a result of the changes we are implementing following the review of tier 4, the student tier of the points based system, we expect there to be an increase in the number of student visitor applications, as genuine students wishing to follow lower level courses no longer permitted under tier 4 will be permitted to use the student visitor route instead.
	The student visitor category is for short-term, temporary visitors to the UK who intend to complete a course of study in the UK within six months. In order to be eligible, all those seeking entry under this category must have a place on a course of study offered by an education provider which either has a tier 4 sponsor licence, or which is subject to public inspection, or which is accredited by one of the UK Border Agency's approved accreditation bodies.
	Student visitors cannot follow a course that contains a work placement, and they are prohibited from taking employment in the UK.
	The Secretary of State for the Home Department's written statement of 10 February 2010,  Official Report, column 58WS contains details of the recommendations stemming from the Prime Minister's review of tier 4.

Firearms

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate he has made of the number of unlicensed handguns in circulation in  (a) England and  (b) the North West; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: These data are not collected centrally. Handguns are prohibited under firearms law and can only be held with the authority of the Secretary of State. Such authority is generally limited to businesses such as arms manufacturers, and is not normally given to individuals. There are some exceptions for certain historic handguns and for certain professions (for example, vets and race starters) which need to use handguns, but they must still be held on a firearms certificate. Unlawful possession of a handgun carries a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and a minimum of five years.
	The National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS) collects intelligence pertaining to the number of known and inferred illegal handguns in the UK, and when necessary these data are shared with the Home Office to inform firearms policy. As these data relate directly to active police operations it is not suitable for the public domain.

Forensic Science Service: Greater London

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the management of the Forensic Science Service in London on the future of the London site after the expiry of its lease in 2013.

Alan Campbell: Discussions between the Forensic Science Service, the Metropolitan Police Authority as landlord, and the Home Office as guarantor of the lease of the laboratory premises at Lambeth, are continuing. The proposed lease, of a five year duration, has yet to be signed. The current plans by the Forensic Science Service envisage a continued occupancy of the Lambeth premises.

Forensic Science Service: Location

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether relocation packages will be available for skilled Forensic Science Service staff who are to be made redundant at sites listed for closure; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: The Forensic Science Service will offer a relocation package for members of staff who have decided that they would like to move to another FSS location.

Forensic Science Service: Redundancy

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his latest estimate is of the number of redundancies at each Forensic Science Service for which closure is planned.

Alan Campbell: The FSS has stated that it anticipates a maximum of 800 redundancies across the organisation. As part of this figure, it is anticipated that redundancies will be made at the Chorley, Chepstow and central Birmingham (Priory House) laboratories in accordance with the following table:
	
		
			  FSS location  Anticipated redundancies 
			 Chorley 180 
			 Chepstow 150 
			 Birmingham Priory 100

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department paid to the Government Car and Despatch Agency in each of the last five years; how much it has spent on such payments in 2009-10; and what proportion of such payments was made in respect of the Government Car Service.

Phil Woolas: The amount paid by the Home Department, inclusive of the Criminal Records Bureau and UKBA agencies, to the Government Car and Despatch Agency in each of the last five financial years and to January 2010 in the current financial year is as follows:
	
		
			  Table 1 
			  Financial year  GCDA expenditure (£) 
			 2005-06 2,930,328 
			 2006-07 2,882,441 
			 2007-08 3,565,119 
			 2008-09 3,789,066 
			 April-January 2009-10 2,897,802 
		
	
	Costs to Departments of ministerial cars are reported annually to Parliament by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport through written ministerial statement and are available in the Libraries of the House.
	The Department currently has an agreement with the GCDA's Green Car service for the provision of cars and drivers. Available expenditure data are as follows:
	
		
			  Table 2 
			  GCDA's Green Cars  £ 
			 FY 2007-08 (1)- 
			 FY 2008-09 115,000 
			 April-December 2009 191,000 
			 (1 )Available only at disproportionate cost

Greater Manchester Police: Forensic Science

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with Greater Manchester Police Force on its decision to hold back all volume crime work from processing by the Forensic Science Service until the next financial year; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: This is a matter for, primarily, the Greater Manchester police in consultation with its forensic suppliers. The FSS has received notification that Greater Manchester police has temporarily suspended submissions of fibres, gun shot residue and glass cases.

Hizb ut-Tahrir

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how many years the group Hizb ut-Tahrir has been active in the UK.

Alan Johnson: It is normal Home Office policy not to comment on groups which may or may not be added to the list of proscribed organisations.

Hotels

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many separate bookings for stays at hotels rated five stars or above were made through the Expotel booking service by his Department in the latest year for which figures are available; and at what cost those bookings were made.

Phil Woolas: From best available information, no bookings for stays at hotels rated at five stars or above were made through the Expotel booking service on behalf of the Home Department in 2009.

Human Trafficking

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps the Government has taken to tackle human trafficking.

Alan Campbell: The Government's plans to combat human trafficking are outlined in the UK Action Plan on Tackling Human Trafficking. The plan is updated annually and can be found at:
	www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk
	The most recent update of the plan, published in October 2009 details 38 actions to tackle trafficking across four key areas of: prevention; investigation, law enforcement and prosecution; providing protection and assistance to adult victims of trafficking; and child victims.

Human Trafficking

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of human trafficking were identified in the UK in 2008.

Alan Campbell: The formal identification system introduced under the national referral mechanism came into force from 1 April 2009.
	In 2008 referrals of potential victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation were referred to the Poppy Project who in 2008 received a total 293 referrals.

Human Trafficking

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to identify victims of human trafficking.

Alan Campbell: The Government's overall approach to tackling human trafficking is outlined in the UK Action Plan:
	www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/humantrafficking004.htm
	As part of its implementation of the Council of Europe convention on action against trafficking in human beings the Government established in April 2009 a National Referral Mechanism (NRM) to identify and support victims. 527 men, women and children were referred through this multi-agency framework in its first nine months of operation. 'First Responders' in designated organisations such as the police, local authorities, and the UK Border Agency (UKBA) refer potential victims of trafficking to trained specialists in 'Competent Authorities' within the UK Human Trafficking Centre and UKBA who determine whether individuals qualify as victims according to the convention.
	The Government has rolled out online guidance on trafficking and the NRM, including providing information and advice for frontline practitioners. For children, a trafficking tool kit is currently being piloted in 13 English and Welsh local authorities. This aims to improve first responders' use of the assessment tool kit, which has been designed to help them identify potential child victims of trafficking.
	Our launch with Comic Relief of the NSPCC Child Trafficking Advice and Information Line (CTAIL) in November 2007 has succeeded in actively supporting practitioners on how best to identify and safeguard children suspected of being trafficked as well as making a positive difference to outcomes in individual case referrals.
	Operation Paladin is a Metropolitan police-led operation involving immigration officers and social workers. It is based at Heathrow airport and the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) Asylum Screening Unit in Croydon. It also has a presence at the Eurostar terminal in London. The team specialises in identifying and safeguarding vulnerable children suspected of being trafficked and undertakes proactive and preventative initiatives against the trafficking of children. It also investigates specific trafficking and migration offences.
	The UKBA has developed human trafficking training for frontline staff to raise their awareness of trafficking, and to help staff recognise and identify indicators. The UK Human Trafficking Centre, in conjunction with the National Policing Improvement Agency, has developed training for police officers. The training covers all forms of human trafficking and has been incorporated into programmes for all new officers as well as specific programmes such as initial detective training and those aimed at police community support officers, domestic violence, roads policing and public protection programmes.

Human Trafficking: West Midlands

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people resident in the West Midlands have been  (a) charged with and  (b) convicted of trafficking for sexual exploitation in each year since 2004.

Alan Campbell: Figures from the United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre for the three police forces in the West Midlands area are as follows:
	
		
			  Charged  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Warwickshire 0 0 5 0 0 
			 West Mercia 0 0 0 3 2 
			 West Midlands 0 2 5 3 1 
		
	
	
		
			  Convictions  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Warwickshire 0 0 5 0 0 
			 West Mercia 0 0 0 1 2 
			 West Midlands 0 0 3 2 0

Illegal Immigrants: Deportation

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of people caught entering the UK illegally were deported in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: Between January 2005 and December 2009, 33,176 illegal entrants were detected by Border Force officers at the UK Border.
	Of the 33,176 illegal entrants detected, 31,968 were removed or deported. A detailed annual breakdown is provided in the following table:
	
		
			   Illegal entrants detected  Illegal entrants removed/deported  Percentage removed/deported 
			 2005 3,287 3,090 94 
			 2006 5,589 5,442 97 
			 2007 5,981 5,778 97 
			 2008 8,983 8,643 96 
			 2009 9,336 9,015 97 
			 Total 33,176 31,968 96 
		
	
	The information used to answer this question has been taken from a live database and is therefore subject to change. It is suitable for management information purposes and has not been subject to the detailed checks required to qualify as National Statistics.

Immigrants: Detainees

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment is made of the mental well-being of detainees in immigration detention centres.

Phil Woolas: Immigration removal centres are operated in accordance with the Detention Centre Rules 2001.
	In accordance with the rules, each centre has a health care department to deliver primary services, which include medical practitioners and nursing staff, including registered mental health nurses.
	Each detainee is seen by a nurse within two hours of arrival at a centre. They are then given an appointment to see a GP within 24 hours, unless the nurse considers an earlier examination is required.
	Where issues of mental illness are identified which require secondary treatment, a referral is made to the relevant primary care trust for assessment and treatment as necessary.

Immigrants: Merseyside

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has made an estimate of the number of immigrants with work permits who have worked in Merseyside since 1997.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 10 February 2010
	The information requested is not centrally recorded and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Immigration

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of claims for indefinite leave to remain were  (a) granted and  (b) declined within (i) three months, (ii) six months, (iii) 12 months, (iv) 24 months and (v) longer in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: The following tables show the percentage of grants and refusals against the annual totals for the past five years.
	
		
			  ILR Grant 
			   Percentage  
			   3 months  6 months  12 months  24 months  24 months  Grand total 
			 2005 74 11 13 1 1 86,053 
			 2006 83 4 9 2 2 81,881 
			 2007 87 5 4 3 1 72,296 
			 2008 95 2 1 1 1 77,265 
			 2009 90 5 2 1 2 98,117 
			 Five year total 86 6 6 1 1 415,612 
		
	
	
		
			  ILR Refusal 
			   Percentage  
			   3 months  6 months  12 months  24 months  24 months  Grand total 
			 2005 82 10 3 3 2 3,965 
			 2006 67 11 13 8 1 5,756 
			 2007 49 17 11 14 9 10,103 
			 2008 50 12 13 12 13 8,098 
			 2009 29 26 10 12 23 9,616 
			 Five year total 50 18 10 11 11 37,538 
		
	
	All figures quoted are internal management information only and are subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols.

Immigration

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the full chronology is of the processing of the hon. Member for Thurrock's constituent's case, Ref J269056, since the granting of exceptional leave to remain on 22 May 2000; for what reasons his acknowledged re-application submitted in 2004 has not been determined; when that application will be determined; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 9 February 2010
	The UK Border Agency wrote to my hon. Friend on 5 February 2010 addressing the concerns he has raised.

Immigration

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the full chronology is of the processing of the hon. Member for Thurrock's constituent's case, Ref G354413; CTS Ref No. M12456/9, since his arrival in the UK on 26 April 1997; for what reasons there has been no determination of his and his family's case; when the case will be determined; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 9 February 2010
	The UK Border Agency wrote to my hon. Friend on 5 February 2010 addressing the concerns he has raised.

Immigration

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for leave to remain in the UK were made outside the immigration rules in the last 12 months.

Phil Woolas: The number of non-asylum applications for leave to remain in the UK, that were made outside the immigration rules in the last 12 months, to
	the end of December 2009 was 9,295(1).
	(1) All figures quoted are internal management information only and are subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols.

Immigration

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many powers relating to immigration have been  (a) created and  (b) amended by legislation sponsored by his Department since 1997.

Alan Johnson: Since 1997 there have been a number of Acts of Parliament relating to immigration as follows:
	The Special Immigration Appeals Commission Act 1997
	The Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
	The British Overseas Territories Act 2002
	The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002
	The Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants etc) Act 2004
	The Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006
	The UK Borders Act 2007
	The Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008
	The Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009
	These Acts have created various immigration powers for a range of public bodies including the Secretary of State, immigration officers and the courts. These statutes also make amendments to Acts pre-dating them, not least the Immigration Act 1971.

Immigration: Fees and Charges

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms are in place to assist those who are unable to afford the fee required for an extension to a UK visa.

Phil Woolas: There are no mechanisms in place to assist those who are unable to afford the application fee.
	An applicant who makes an application under a category not covered by an exemption set out in the fee regulations must pay the appropriate fee for that application for it to be considered. Any application made that is not accompanied by the correct fee is invalid.

Immigration: Yemen

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many citizens of Yemen have been refused entry to the UK on grounds of links to terrorism in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: In the last five years, a total of two Yemeni nationals have been refused entry to the UK on the basis that their presence in the UK would not be conducive to the public good. This category of refusal includes, but is not limited to, those nationals suspected of having links to terrorism.
	Both of these refusals took place in 2009 and resulted in the individuals being removed from the UK.

Iraq Committee of Inquiry

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) documents and  (b) other items of information in electronic format provided by his Department to the Iraq Inquiry that Inquiry has sought to publish under the procedure set out in the protocol on documents and other written and electronic information; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office on 9 February 2010,  Official Report, columns 893-894W.

Local Government Finance

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 22 October 2009,  Official Report, column 1645W, on local government finance, what data sets not contained in the national indicator set local authorities are required to submit to his Department.

Phil Woolas: The Home Office does not place any statutory obligations on local authorities to submit any data sets to the Department, other than the national indicator set.

Mephedrone

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to the inclusion of a question on mephedrone use in the British Crime Survey.

Alan Campbell: A question on mephedrone use will be added to the British Crime Survey from April 2010.

Mephedrone

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs in respect of mephedrone use.

Alan Campbell: The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) advised me of its concerns regarding the potential harms associated with the cathinones, including mephedrone, in correspondence sent on 22 December 2009. The council's commitment to review these compounds as a matter of urgency was reinforced at a meeting between myself and the interim Chair of the Council on 2 February 2010. The council are progressing this at a meeting to be held on the 22 February 2010, and will report to Ministers as soon as is practicable.

Milngavie Reservoir: Security

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent  (a) discussions and  (b) correspondence he has had with (i) Ministers in the Scottish Executive and (ii) representatives of Scottish Water on the public security issues concerning the erection of fences around Milngavie reservoir; what security threat the fences are intended to address; what recent assessment he has made of the requirement for such security fencing; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: holding answer 4 February 2010
	There have been no recent discussions or correspondence between Home Office Ministers and Scottish Ministers or representatives of Scottish Water on public security issues concerning the erection of fences around Milngavie reservoir.
	In line with our long-standing policy, we do not comment on matters of national security.

Offenders: Deportation

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many time-served foreign prisoners held in the UK border Agency's detention estate  (a) went missing without permission and  (b) re-offended whilst being held in each year since 1998.

Alan Johnson: The following table shows the number of time-served foreign prisoners held in the UK Border Agency's detention estate who went missing without permission between 2007 and 2009.
	
		
			  Time-served foreign prisoners missing without permission from a detention centre 
			   Number 
			 2007 26 
			 2008 10 
			 2009 1 
		
	
	This data relates only to those time-served foreign prisoners being held pending deportation.
	This data is based on management information only and has not been subject to the detailed checks that apply for National Statistics publications. These figures are provisional and are subject to change.
	The information requested for the number of time-served foreign prisoners held in the UK Border Agency's detention estate who went missing without permission between 1998 and 2007 and the number of time-served foreign prisoners held in the UK Border Agency's detention estate who re-offended while being held in each year since 1998, can only be obtained by the detailed examination of individual record at disproportionate cost.

Passports

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the effect on expenditure as classified in the  (a) common passport and identity card and  (b) passport-specific section of the most recent identity cards scheme cost report of issuing passports without fingerprint data in each year from 2010-11 to 2018-19.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 12 January 2010
	It is intended that passports incorporating fingerprints will be introduced from 2012 onwards and applicants for such passports will be enrolled on the National Identity Register. From that point, common business processes and technology infrastructure will be used to register applicants on the National Identity Register and issue them with an identity card and/or a passport.

Passports: Fees and Charges

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the differences are between the fee structures for passport applications for British citizens resident overseas and those resident in the UK.

Alan Johnson: The Identity and Passport Service sets the passport fee for British citizens following an annual review with HM Treasury to ensure passport fee levels are set to recover the costs of the service provided.
	The passport fee for British citizens resident overseas is set by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Passports: Fees and Charges

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to increase the UK passport application fee in 2010.

Meg Hillier: Passport fees are set in order to recover the full cost of providing the service including an element for non fee bearing consular services abroad. Fee levels are reviewed annually with HM Treasury.
	The passport fee review for 2010 has not yet been concluded.

Passports: Lost Property

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many dispatched passports have been reported lost since November 2007; and what estimate he has made of the number of such lost passports that may have been stolen.

Meg Hillier: During the period November 2007 to September 2009, the latest date for which information is available, 1,135 passports, 0.01 per cent. of those produced, were recorded as lost during the delivery process.
	Of these, 115 are recorded as lost as a result of theft from a courier or courier's vehicle, and 16 as misplaced within the delivery process.
	The remainder are recorded as lost due to misposting by couriers.

Police

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers in each police force in England were on each category of restricted duties in each reporting period from 1997 to 2010; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: Data on officers on recuperative and restricted duties are available centrally from 2003. Force level figures for each year from 2003-09, the latest available reporting period, are shown in the following tables. Figures for 2010 will be available later this year.
	
		
			  Police officers on recuperative( 1)  and restricted( 2)  duties, 2003-09( 3) 
			   As at 31 March each year: 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006 
			   Recuperative  Restricted  Recuperative  Restricted  Recuperative  Restricted  Recuperative  Restricted 
			 Avon and Somerset 62 133 61 166 65 171 52 205 
			 Bedfordshire 13 12 99 161 44 111 27 41 
			 Cambridgeshire 72 47 59 51 32 28 45 28 
			 Cheshire 87 7 118 7 21 54 59 52 
			 Cleveland 23 82 35 44 21 116 - - 
			 Cumbria 0 0 30 26 9 20 30 28 
			 Derbyshire 44 82 46 79 65 84 12 12 
			 Devon and Cornwall - - - - 8 0 25 22 
			 Dorset 53 34 47 39 53 54 49 53 
			 Durham 34 23 - - 47 49 18 82 
			 Dyfed-Powys 22 14 - - 18 37 16 31 
			 Essex 740 371 977 588 78 54 122 95 
			 Gloucestershire 6 6 9 24 11 26 15 45 
			 Greater Manchester 29 181 130 101 134 280 65 435 
			 Gwent 13 35 32 76 10 39 8 62 
			 Hampshire - 150 25 95 - - - - 
			 Hertfordshire 21 85 43 107 7 100 62 147 
			 Humberside 246 9 86 16 141 22 95 25 
			 Kent 113 164 19 192 0 182 10 188 
			 Lancashire 15 14 15 8 111 124 99 159 
			 Leicestershire - - - - - - 8 51 
			 Lincolnshire 18 26 6 76 6 11 7 65 
			 London, City of 10 34 10 42 7 52 3 34 
			 Merseyside 412 0 252 39 304 57 86 396 
			 Metropolitan Police 1,161 183 1,039 208 1,246 442 1,119 766 
			 Norfolk 48 28 48 48 34 65 35 41 
			 Northamptonshire 74 10 45 29 83 33 87 30 
			 Northumbria 84 33 98 47 104 40 30 64 
			 North Wales 28 4 - - 166 40 112 73 
			 North Yorkshire 44 16 32 20 50 50 43 34 
			 Nottinghamshire 1 99 2 52 7 58 5 110 
			 South Wales 64 23 74 40 - - 88 54 
			 South Yorkshire 82 13 54 17 60 23 51 39 
			 Staffordshire 282 69 315 43 167 32 149 47 
			 Suffolk 6 64 9 62 35 70 29 75 
			 Surrey - - - - - - - - 
			 Sussex - - - - 13 - 12 0 
			 Thames Valley 60 41 90 107 - - 129 113 
			 Warwickshire 23 37 38 56 24 30 47 23 
			 West Mercia 50 15 48 31 31 49 61 65 
			 West Midlands 37 5 317 270 251 329 278 260 
			 West Yorkshire 228 139 148 99 136 236 144 208 
			 Wiltshire 65 11 26 1 65 3 101 2 
		
	
	
		
			   As at 31 March each year: 
			   200 7  200 8  200 9 
			   Recuperative  Restricted  Recuperative  Restricted  Recuperative  Restricted 
			 Avon and Somerset 44 252 28 177 27 149 
			 Bedfordshire 42 41 26 38 30 41 
			 Cambridgeshire 30 35 0 42 0 1 
			 Cheshire 42 117 39 138 28 113 
			 Cleveland 21 74 16 51 15 44 
			 Cumbria 29 45 14 69 2 5 
			 Derbyshire 2 6 0 5 0 0 
			 Devon and Cornwall 178 87 56 74 55 94 
			 Dorset 41 43 45 37 50 32 
			 Durham 29 51 26 29 16 35 
			 Dyfed-Powys 17 25 19 45 50 93 
			 Essex 116 100 132 126 64 37 
			 Gloucestershire 7 56 4 81 13 64 
			 Greater Manchester 107 398 115 424 104 425 
			 Gwent 11 55 20 54 17 47 
			 Hampshire - - - 142 0 131 
			 Hertfordshire 14 121 - - - - 
			 Humberside 98 31 93 33 80 30 
			 Kent 23 275 26 254 816 153 
			 Lancashire 113 137 95 145 114 184 
			 Leicestershire 4 116 13 130 6 122 
			 Lincolnshire 4 67 2 78 10 62 
			 London, City of 6 32 7 35 3 35 
			 Merseyside 64 366 89 103 70 56 
			 Metropolitan Police 1,094 921 1,078 1,042 1,118 1,151 
			 Norfolk 25 44 26 48 23 48 
			 Northamptonshire 59 51 83 64 51 65 
			 Northumbria 78 50 64 26 82 22 
			 North Wales 49 81 34 52 117 43 
			 North Yorkshire 74 44 97 29 79 9 
			 Nottinghamshire 28 75 15 71 25 75 
			 South Wales 80 77 12 161 91 70 
			 South Yorkshire 53 82 42 76 33 75 
			 Staffordshire 70 133 93 143 62 149 
			 Suffolk 28 85 19 106 - - 
			 Surrey - - 29 28 56 25 
			 Sussex 73 81 - - 104 88 
			 Thames Valley - - - - - - 
			 Warwickshire 87 39 29 51 44 56 
			 West Mercia 82 76 71 83 94 86 
			 West Midlands 80 203 41 228 121 311 
			 West Yorkshire 143 285 175 302 164 341 
			 Wiltshire 72 1 86 1 103 1 
			 (1) Total number of police officers (head count) on 'recuperative' duties as at 31 March. These are temporary duties or working conditions approved to assist an officer's ultimate return to full duties after injury or illness by allowing them to return to or continue in work of a less demanding capacity. (2) Total number of police officers (head count) on 'restricted' duties as at 31 March. These are duties or conditions approved, other than for recuperative purposes, for fixed periods totalling more than 28 consecutive days (including rest days) for an officer who is unable for a specific reason to carry out one or more aspects of full operational duty. (3) These data are provisional. They have not undergone usual quality assurance practices (including validation with individual police forces), and are therefore supplied for information purposes only.

Police National Computer

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department has issued to police forces on removing records from the Police National Computer relating to people who have had their DNA profile removed from the National DNA Database as an exceptional case; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The Home Office has issued no such guidance to the police.
	The PNC retention guidelines issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers include an exceptional cases procedure. In accordance with this, it is for individual chief police officers to use their discretion to decide whether to amend or delete information placed by their force on the police national computer (PNC) and the national DNA database (NDNAD). In exercising that discretion, they may make different decisions in respect of information held on the different systems.

Police National Computer

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many personal records have been removed from the Police National Computer in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The police national computer (PNC) is an operational tool and is not designed to produce the information requested. To obtain the information would incur a disproportionate cost.

Police: Emergency Calls

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his most recent estimate is of the  (a) average and  (b) average target response time for police attendance at the scene of an incident following a 999 call in (i) each police force area and (ii) England and Wales.

Alan Johnson: The Policing Pledge, which was introduced across all police forces in England and Wales at the end of 2008, sets out the minimum standards of service that the public can expect to receive from the police including for response times. Through the pledge, the police have committed to aim to answer 999 calls within 10 seconds, deploying to emergencies immediately, giving an estimated time of arrival and reaching the incident as safely and as quickly as possible. In urban areas, they aim to arrive within 15 minutes and in rural areas within 20 minutes.
	The Home Office does not collect data centrally on average response times. However in October 2009, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary published a report on the standard of pledge delivery across all police forces. The report notes that on responding to emergency calls, 17 forces were graded 'good', 25 were 'fair' and one force was 'poor'.
	It is for individual police forces and authorities to ensure delivery of the policing pledge in their area. The Government will hold forces to account for progress through the single top-down target we have set them to improve public confidence that crime and antisocial behaviour are being tackled locally, and in the light of inspection work by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary. Latest British Crime Survey (BCS) figures released in January 2010 show an improving trend, that, nationally, 50 per cent. of the public now agree that the police and local councils are dealing with the antisocial behaviour and crime issues that matter locally.

Police: Feltham

Alan Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many full-time police officers there were in Feltham and Heston  (a) in 1997 and  (b) at the latest date for which information is available.

David Hanson: Data on numbers of police officers are not available specifically at constituency level. The Feltham and Heston constituency lies within the Metropolitan police's basic command unit (BCU) of Hounslow borough. Figures at BCU level have been collected only since 2002-03. They show that the number of full-time equivalent police officers in Hounslow rose from 467 on 31 March 2003 to 518 on 31 March 2009, the latest published period. These figures include officers on career break or maternity/paternity leave. A full BCU breakdown of police officer numbers appears each year in supplementary tables to the annual 'Police Service Strength' publication, available on the Home Office website and the Library of the House.

Police: Football

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the expenditure was of the UK Football Policing Unit in England and Wales in each year since 2003.

Alan Johnson: The UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) was established in November 2005 following a review of the funding and delivery arrangements for policing regulated football matches in England and Wales. UKFPU is a front-line Home Office unit jointly overseen with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) lead for policing football. It undertakes a range of statutory functions and provides an infrastructure for policing English and Welsh football matches at home and, in particular, abroad. Information on expenditure is only available for the financial year commencing April 2006-the initial period having been funded from core Home Office resources.
	
		
			   Expenditure of the UK Football Policing Unit (£) 
			 April 2006 to March 2007 1,486,933 
			 April 2007 to March 2008 2,094,858 
			 April 2008 to March 2009 2,191,302

Powers of Entry

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many powers of entry have been  (a) created and  (b) amended by legislation sponsored by his Department since 1997.

David Hanson: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 28 January 2010,  Official Report, columns 1046-48W.

Powers of Entry

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the Prime Minister's speech at the University of Westminster on 25 October 2007, on liberty, for what reasons the proposed new test for powers of entry has not been implemented.

David Hanson: I refer the hon. Member to my answer on 28 January 2010,  Official Report, column 1047W.

Powers of Entry: Public Consultation

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the public consultation to be undertaken as part of Lord West's review of powers of entry will commence.

David Hanson: Proposals on a future framework approach for powers of entry will be published later this year.

Public Holidays

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of the introduction of an additional public holiday; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The value of the introduction of an additional day's public holiday in the Home Office can be costed at an estimated notional value of £2.2 million, but it would not in fact incur an additional cost to the pay bill, as staff would merely be paid for a day on which they were not working rather than one on which they were. Similarly, although there are services offered by the Home Office which generate income, income would not be lost, as those services are not available from an alternative source and so would be obtained and paid for on another day. Therefore, although a notional cost can be attributed to the introduction of an additional day's public holiday, there would be no actual cost.

Repatriation

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent on the  (a) Facilitated Returns Scheme and  (b) Assisted Voluntary Returns programme in each year of their operation; and how many individuals have been awarded funds in each such year.

Phil Woolas: Expenditure by the UK Border Agency on the Facilitated Returns Scheme (FRS) from its inception in October 2006 to March 2009 was approximately £4.3 million. Of the 4,200 foreign national prisoners removed or deported in 2007 around 25 per cent. were removed under the scheme. Of the 5,400 foreign national prisoners removed in 2008 and the 3,890 removed in quarters 1-3 2009, around 30 per cent. were removed under FRS.
	
		
			  Assisted Voluntary Return programmes costs by full programme year 2000-07 
			  Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration programme 
			  Programme year  Total funding (£) 
			 2000-01 557,827 
			 2001-02 992,587 
			 2002-03 956,048 
			 2003-04 4,500,823 
			 2004-05 7,267,560 
			 2005-06 8,640,406 
			 2006-07 15,390,384 
			 2007-08 11,132,486 
			 Total 49,438,121 
			  Notes: 1. Pilot programme 1999. 2. Programme year 2000-05-April to July extended. 3. Programme year 2005-06 onwards-August to July. 
		
	
	
		
			  Assisted Voluntary Return for irregular migrants 
			  Programme year  Total funding  (€) 
			 2005-06 555,453 
			 2006-07 1,518,112 
			 2007-08 1,803,994 
			 Total 3,877,559 
			  Notes: 1. Pilot 15 November 2004 to 31 March 2005 2. Programme year-April to March 
		
	
	These costs may be subject to revision and are still subject to audit, costs have yet to be agreed. 2008 programme final
	The following table shows how many individuals left under AVR.
	
		
			   Asylum cases leaving under AVR programmes  Non-Asylum cases leaving under AVR programmes 
			 1999 50 - 
			 2000 550 - 
			 2001 980 - 
			 2002 895 - 
			 2003 1,755 - 
			 2004 2,705 10 
			 2005 3,235 420 
			 2006 5,340 860 
			 2007(1) 2,865 1,290 
			 2008(1) 2,700 1,595 
			 (1) Provisional figures. 
		
	
	Both AVR and FRS are currently part funded by the European Union.

Repatriation: Offenders

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders were removed from the country under the Facilitated Returns Scheme in each year from October 2006 to October 2009; what the cost of the scheme was in each of those years; and what the average level of grant to offenders was in each of those years.

Phil Woolas: Of the 4,200 foreign national prisoners removed or deported in 2007 around 25 per cent. were removed under the Facilitated Returns Scheme (FRS). Of the 5,400 foreign national prisoners removed in 2008 and the 3,890 removed in quarters 1 to 3 2009, around 30 per cent. were removed under FRS.
	Management information on the average level of grant awarded to those removed under FRS and who claimed the reintegration package in 2006 or 2007 is not considered sufficiently reliable. In both 2008 and between quarters 1 and 3 of 2009 less than three-quarters removed under FRS claimed the reintegration package on return and of those that did, the average amount received was less than £2,500 for 2008 and £3,500 for quarters 1 to 3 of 2009.
	The scheme continues to deliver significant number of removals of foreign national criminals and continues to be developed to maximise savings and maintain public safety.
	The chief executive of the UK Border Agency will provide the Home Affairs Committee with information on the cost of the FRS when she writes later this month.

Sexual Offences

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many registered sex offenders in England and Wales have been found not to be residing at their registered address in each year since 1998.

Alan Johnson: The data requested is not collected in the format requested and could be collated only at disproportionate cost.

Smuggling: Shipping

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many ships were searched by HM Revenue and Customs in UK ports in each of the last three years.

Phil Woolas: In April 2008, specialist search teams which were previously the responsibility of HM Revenue and Customs, became part of the UK Border Agency.
	The number of ships searched in Northern Ireland ports, by these teams in the last three years, is as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Ships searched 
			 2006-07 0 
			 2007-08 0 
			 2008-09 16 
		
	
	In addition to the searches carried out by these specialist teams, non-specialist UK Border Agency staff, including the Cutter fleet, also challenge and board commercial vessels arriving in UK ports.

Smuggling: Shipping

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many ships were searched by HM Revenue and Customs in Northern Ireland ports in each of the last three years.

Phil Woolas: In April 2008, specialist search teams which were previously the responsibility of HM Revenue and Customs, became part of the UK Border Agency.
	The number of ships searched in UK ports, by these teams in the last three years, is as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Number of ships searched 
			 2006-07 85 
			 2007-08 505 
			 2008-09 640 
		
	
	In addition to the searches carried out by these specialist teams, non-specialist UK Border Agency staff, including the Cutter fleet, also challenge and board commercial vessels arriving in UK ports.

Special Advocates

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  whether special advocates have been employed in cases involving  (a) control orders,  (b) the Special Immigration Appeals Commission,  (c) asset freezing,  (d) the Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission,  (e) the Security Vetting Appeals Panel,  (f) the Employment Tribunal,  (g) the Employment Appeal Tribunal and  (h) race discrimination claims under the Race Relations Act 1976 since their introduction;
	(2)  whether special advocates have been employed in cases involving  (a) criminal prosecutions where closed material is relied upon,  (b) the Information Tribunal,  (c) judicial review of Government decisions not to provide exculpatory material relating to Guantánamo detainees,  (d) private law compensation claims from former Guantánamo detainees,  (e) other judicial reviews where closed material is used,  (f) decisions on the release and recall of prisoners involving the use of closed material under various statutory provisions in Northern Ireland and  (g) the National Security Certificate Appeals Tribunal Northern Ireland since their introduction.

Vera Baird: I have been asked to reply.
	The answers to the questions the hon. Member for Hendon has posed may most helpfully be put in the form of a table, which appears as follows. The table relates to the UK and has been prepared with the assistance of the Office of the Solicitor to the Advocate-General for Scotland.
	
		
			   Yes  No 
			  Question 316606   
			  (a) Control Orders x - 
			  (b) Special Immigration Appeals Commission x - 
			  (c) Asset Freezing x - 
			  (d) Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission x - 
			  (e) Security Vetting Appeals Panel x - 
			  (f) Employment Tribunal x - 
			  (g) Employment Appeal Tribunal x - 
			  (h) Race Discrimination claims under Race Relations Act 1976 - x 
			 
			  Question 316618   
			  (a) Criminal Prosecutions-in this context the advocates are known as Special Counsel x - 
			  (b) Information Tribunal x - 
			  (c) Guantanamo Detainees-Judicial Review x - 
			  (d) Former Guantanamo Detainees-Private Law Compensation claims - x 
			  (e) Other Judicial Reviews x - 
			  (f) Release and Recall of Prisoners under various statutory provisions in Northern Ireland x - 
			  (g) National Security Certificate Appeals Tribunal Northern Ireland x -

Stun Guns

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of the potential for use by the police of the extended range electronic projectile Taser.

David Hanson: The Government have no current plans to introduce extended range electronic projectiles for use by the police.
	The Home Office Scientific Development Branch (HOSDB) assesses and reviews a range of new technologies on behalf of the police service. As part of this work, HOSDB is conducting preliminary assessments of the effectiveness, level of risk and utility of a product being developed by Taser International called the extended Range Electronic Projectile (XREP). Any equipment issued to police officers is subject to very rigorous testing, and would also undergo full independent medical assessment.
	The Government's approach to developing the use of less lethal weapons is in line with articles 2 and 3 of the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms.

Theft: Motor Vehicles

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of thefts of cars facilitated through the theft of car keys.

Alan Campbell: The British Crime Survey 2008-09 shows that vehicle crime has reduced by 57 per cent. since 1997. This success was achieved by Government and police working with partners in the public and private sectors to reduce crime, and to make cars harder to steal. It is now almost impossible to steal a car without using the keys. Some criminals now target the car keys, and the most prevalent method for doing so is by burgling homes to steal car keys, known as car key burglary.
	We have invested £15 million this year in preventing and tackling burglary, including physically securing homes with effective locks and providing the right advice to those most at risk of burglary. Our current publicity campaign Don't Advertise Your Stuff To Thieves specifically addresses this crime through its television advert. Renewed advice on preventing burglary, including car key burglary, is also available on the Home Office website. We are currently working with the police and the Home Office Design and Technology Alliance to develop further responses to the issue of car key burglary.
	We have updated our advice to people on how to protect their homes and cars. The Home Office website provides advice to householders on protecting themselves from burglary, including advice on keeping car keys out of sight of doors and windows, closing and locking doors and windows, and advising on appropriate security standards to take account of when replacing windows or doors. It includes Steer Clear of Car Crime, an updated publication which provides advice for people on protecting their car and its contents from theft, including specific advice on keeping car keys safe from thieves.
	The Home Office also funds the ACPO Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS). Its aims include reducing thefts of vehicles and increasing recovery of stolen vehicles. It works closely with partners across police forces, the wider public sector and the private sector to tackle vehicle crime in all its forms, including car key burglary. AVCIS has participated in a number of successful joint police operations targeted at reducing vehicle crime, including car key burglary.

UK Border Agency

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints UK Border Agency managers have received from staff intending to become whistleblowers in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: This information is not collected centrally.
	The Home Office policy on whistleblowing encourages members of staff to speak up about genuine concerns regarding wrongdoing and matters of conscience. They may raise their concerns in a number of ways: to their line manager; another manager whom they trust; one of the Department's nominated officers; to the Civil Service Commissioners; or to a relevant regulatory body such as the National Audit Office or the Health and Safety Executive. Matters of conscience may also be reported to the Permanent Secretary.

UK Border Agency: Complaints

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints the UK Border Agency (UKBA) received against its staff  (a) for each given reason and  (b) from each type of UKBA service user in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Data for complaints received by the UK Border Agency from members of the public about UK Border Agency staff can be provided for 2008 and 2009.
	Serious misconduct complaints (Serious misconduct is any unprofessional behaviour which, if substantiated, would lead to disciplinary action)
	 2008
	127 complaints (eight of which were substantiated)
	 2009
	155 complaints (18 of which were substantiated)
	Minor misconduct complaints (Minor misconduct is usually to do with isolated instances of rudeness and unprofessional conduct which are not serious enough to warrant a formal investigation and if substantiated they would not lead to criminal or disciplinary proceedings)
	 2008
	293 complaints
	 2009
	774 complaints

UK Border Agency: Complaints

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints about racism involving UK Border Agency staff were received from asylum seekers in each of the smallest geographical areas for which figures are available in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Between January 2009 and January 2010, 28 complaints concerning serious misconduct that involved allegations of racism were received by the UK Border Agency, from members of the public, one of these complaints was substantiated. No geographical breakdown is available nor do records indicate in how many cases the complainants were asylum seekers.

UK Border Agency: Complaints

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints relating to incidents of violence by UK Border Agency staff were received from asylum seekers in each of the smallest geographical areas for which figures are available in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: 92 allegations of assault by UKBA staff were received between January 2009 and January 2010. two of these were substantiated. Central data does not show whether or not the complainant was an asylum seeker in each case.

UK Border Agency: Contracts

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2010,  Official Report, column 587W, on UK Border Agency: contracts, which contractors were awarded the 13 UK Border Agency contracts valued at over £2 million in 2009.

Phil Woolas: The contractors awarded the 13 UK Border Agency contracts valued at over £2 million in 2009 are as follows:
	1. Rapiscan Systems Ltd.
	2. The GEO Group UK Ltd.
	3. Northern Ireland Housing Executive
	4. FCO Services
	5. FCO Services
	6. Atos Origin IT Services UK Limited
	7. Dell Corporation
	8. Specialist Computer Centres plc
	9. Serco
	10. G4S
	11. G4S
	12. Jomast
	13. Interserve

UK Border Agency: Crimes of Violence

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of violence by asylum seekers against UK Border Agency staff were recorded in each of the smallest geographical areas for which figures are available in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Please see following table which shows the number of physical assaults recorded by location. Please note that UKBA do not record the identity of the individual making the assault and cannot specify whether he or she was an 'asylum seeker'. The figures in the table therefore represent all assaults on staff by members of the public and not just asylum seekers. Verbal assaults are excluded from this data.
	
		
			  City  Total  2005  2006  2007  2008  2009 
			 Birmingham 1 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Cardiff 1 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Castle Donington 1 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Crawley 1 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Croydon 10 0 0 6 0 4 
			 Felixstowe 1 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Folkestone 7 1 0 4 0 2 
			 Harlington 1 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Hounslow 4 0 0 1 1 2 
			 Liverpool 6 0 0 3 1 2 
			 London 8 0 1 3 1 3 
			 Manchester 1 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Poole 2 0 2 0 0 0 
			 Portsmouth 1 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Salford 1 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Stansted 1 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Not recorded 12 3 1 7 1 0 
			 Total 59 5 7 25 6 16

UK Border Agency: Manpower

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of service at the UK Border Agency has been of  (a) case-owners and  (b) casework team leaders (i) in Cardiff and (ii) nationally in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: UK Border Agency staffing data held are collated by grade only and not by role. Therefore average length of service of these roles is not available.

UK Border Agency: Manpower

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of UK Border Agency legal staff  (a) in Cardiff and  (b) nationally are qualified (i) solicitors, (ii) barristers and (iii) para-legal staff; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: There are no staff of the UK Border Agency based in Cardiff whose role is to provide legal services. General advice on procedure and current case law is provided through teams outside the Wales and South West of England region and are staffed by policy specialists. Bespoke legal advice is commissioned from the Home Office Legal Advisers Branch, Treasury Solicitor or independent Counsel as required.
	Home Office Presenting Officers, who appear for the Secretary of State in the vast majority of represented appeals before the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal, are not required to hold a legal qualification.
	No data is held on whether staff employed by UK Border Agency hold these qualifications.

UK Border Agency: Standards

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms are in place to ensure the consistency of immigration application decisions taken by different UK Border Agency offices; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The Department has in place a number of measures designed to ensure the consistency of asylum decisions. All applications are considered against centrally produced guidance and new caseowners receive uniform national training before they begin to deal with cases. Audit and quality control processes are in place and issues arising from the audits are promulgated nationally every month. Consistency is promoted through regular meetings of both regional asylum managers and senior asylum caseworkers who use a variety of networks to help ensure that best practice is shared and promoted nationwide.

UK Border Agency: Termination of Employment

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of UK Border Agency case owners based in Cardiff have had their contracts terminated for each reason in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: UK Border Agency staffing data are held by grade and not by role. So it is not possible to answer the question as asked. In respect of all staff in Cardiff, contracts have been terminated as follows:
	
		
			  Termination of contract in Cardiff 
			   Number 
			 2009-10 10 
			 2008-09 5 
			 2007-08 0 
			 2006-07 5 
			 2005-06 0

UK Border Agency: Termination of Employment

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of UK Border Agency case owners had their contracts terminated for each reason in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: UK Border Agency staffing data is held by grade and not by role. So it is not possible to answer the question as put. In respect of staff across the agency, contracts have been terminated as follows:
	
		
			  Leaving reason  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 Discharge on inefficiency grounds during a probationary or trial period (1)- 10 6 (1)- (1)- 
			 Dismissal for inefficiency with compensation 12 16 19 25 21 
			 Dismissal for inefficiency without compensation 25 11 31 21 8 
			 Dismissal on disciplinary grounds with compensation (1)- (1)- (1)- 7 (1)- 
			 Dismissal on disciplinary grounds without compensation 25 26 41 36 38 
			 End of Contract HO (1-) 12 54 190 781 
			 Gross Misconduct (1-) 11 (1)- (1)- 0 
			 Total 76 88 156 284 853 
			 (1) Five or less.

UK Border Agency: Training

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what  (a) equality and  (b) cultural awareness training is (i) compulsory and (ii) made voluntarily available for UK Border Agency employees; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: A range of learning vehicles on equality and cultural awareness are available to UK Border Agency staff. These can be delivered by e-learning, workshops and DVDs. All permanent UKBA staff are required to complete diversity e-learning.

Vandalism

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of vandalism have been reported in  (a) England,  (b) Suffolk,  (c) Bedfordshire,  (d) Cambridgeshire,  (e) Essex,  (f) Hertfordshire and  (g) Norfolk in each year since 1997.

Alan Campbell: The available information relates to offences of criminal damage recorded by the police and is given in the following tables.
	
		
			  Table 1: Offences of criminal damage recorded in selected police force areas, 1997 
			  Police force area  Number of offences 
			 England 822,029 
			 Suffolk 7,835 
			 Bedfordshire 8,025 
			 Cambridgeshire 9,250 
			 Essex 18,845 
			 Hertfordshire 9,831 
			 Norfolk 9,782 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Offences of criminal damage recorded in selected police force areas, 1998-99 to 2001-02( 1, 2) 
			  Number of offences 
			  Police force area  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02 
			 England 823,520 890,756 906,800 1,007,634 
			 Suffolk 7,898 9,547 10,150 12,095 
			 Bedfordshire 7,893 8,048 7,892 8,191 
			 Cambridgeshire 11,925 12,110 13,197 13,972 
			 Essex 18,834 21,766 24,673 26,990 
			 Hertfordshire 10,177 11,560 13,839 15,302 
			 Norfolk 10,393 10,978 11,481 13,065 
			 (1) The coverage was extended and counting rules revised from 1998-99. Figures from that date are not directly comparable with those for 1997. (2) The data in this table is prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Offences of criminal damage recorded in selected police force areas, 2002-03 to 2008-09( 1) 
			  Number of offences 
			  Police force area  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 England(2) 1,043,197 1,139,308 1,120,426 1,107,645 1,106,543 965,932 870,684 
			 Suffolk 11,497 12,817 12,781 13,067 13,084 12,207 11,300 
			 Bedfordshire 10,050 11,065 10,561 10,817 10,717 10,141 8,720 
			 Cambridgeshire 16,153 16,534 16,227 14,680 15,597 14,001 12,980 
			 Essex 30,337 34,253 32,406 30,564 30,010 26,379 23,554 
			 Hertfordshire 17,988 19,887 20,762 20,986 20,713 17,374 14,999 
			 Norfolk 16,030 17,462 17,470 17,577 17,258 14,790 12,647 
			 (1) The data in this table takes account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years. (2) Excluding British Transport police.

Yarl's Wood Detention Centre: Hunger Strikes

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports he has received on  (a) an ongoing hunger strike by women at Yarl's Wood immigration removal centre and  (b) the reasons given by those women for taking that action; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The director of detention services and his staff have kept me fully informed about the passive protest by women at Yarl's Wood and continue to do so.
	The protest has included a number of women refusing to eat meals provided in the canteen, although a number of them continue to purchase food made available in the shop and vending machines.
	The well-being of the women is being monitored closed by health care officials in the centre and none are showing any signs of concern.
	While each resident will have their own personal reasons for joining the protest, they are in general objecting to their detention. The UK Border Agency aims to keep detention to a minimum in order to enforce the removal of those with no basis of stay in the UK or whose deportation is required to protect the public from the harm they pose. It is a fact that detainees themselves often prolong their own detention by making late spurious appeals and failing to comply with the documentation and removal process.